Lamont residents should pay for park themselves

Reports I have seen since the first of the year have led me to believe the county is broke. Back in June the county taxpayers got a small look at what the state calls “wetland migration.” By being able to declare culverts on D22 as wetlands, the taxpayers in Buchanan County will have to buy land in the Fairbank area for $10,000 to $12,000. In addition to that, I see at least one of our supervisors and the county conservation board wants to spend $60,000 to buy land near Lamont so the residents of Lamont can have a 40-acre park within walking distance of town.

This all brings to mind a statement made several years ago by Congressman King. He had a fit when he found out that Medicare was paying for Viagra for senior citizens. I am not sure of the actual quote but basically it was that sex is a recreational activity and whatever recreational activity people want they should have to pay for themselves. If the people in Lamont are not content with Backbone State Park in their backyards and want another park, let them pay for it themselves.

A recent report in the Waterloo Courier stated that in June 2008, 1,148 people in Buchanan County needed food assistance. In June 2009, 1,405 people needed assistance. This is an increase of over 22 percent. The unemployment rate in Iowa is 6.5 percent. That's over 100,000 people out of work. I also see longer lists of bankruptcies in the local papers. I doubt if any of these people would say what they really need is another park.

Merle Wilson

Jesup