Let taxpayers vote on proposed Marion plan

The citizens of Marion should be allowed to vote on the city's proposed development Plan D. This plan affects everyone who lives or works in Marion. As such, it should not be left to just seven people (the council) to decide.

It is my understanding that such an election would require either tabling the plan until it can be included in the ballot next year, or a special election. Special elections cost money. Given the economy, not a lot of development dollars are likely to roll in during the next year, anyway. Therefore, it seems like tabling the plan until the next general election would be the most economical option.

I hope that the council will be discriminating and measured in their deliberations. The last major change in the flow of traffic in downtown Marion was 1980 when 11th Street was closed at Seventh Avenue.

I would remind the current council that the entire council turned over at the election following that dire decision - which was minuscule in comparison to the changes proposed under Plan D.

Let the taxpayers decide directly.

Julia Wittnebel

Marion