Don’t lump farmers in with problem areas

I have helped vote both friends and neighbors into the office of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, but I think it is time we all stand back and take a long, hard look at the role our county supervisors are taking.

My husband and I have lived on a Century Farm since we were married almost 50 years ago. The farm has been in the family for at least 120 years and never once did we dream that the day would come when the Johnson County Board of Supervisors could just come marching in on every inch of our private property, tell us how we had to comply to its rules or be fined daily until we comply. This is the (proposed) maintenance code for all rural property.

It is my understanding this code was originally being tried because of a rundown trailer court. Immediately, the supervisors want to lump in all of rural Johnson County.

My questions: Is there a hidden agenda we do not yet know about? Is the Board of Supervisors trying to please certain interest groups? Why throw this code in the face of the farmers rather than the people who are causing the problem? How are you going to pay for your watchdogs and inspectors, more property taxes?

Deanna Fuhrmeister

Iowa City