BOLLINGER COUNTY'S NITSCH OPPOSES LAKE

MARBLE HILL -- Bill Nitsch, Republican candidate for Bollinger County presiding commissioner, opposes a recreational lake that had been proposed for Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties.

While the project is on the shelf, opinions about the lake remain strong in Bollinger County.

A story in the Southeast Missourian Wednesday misstated Nitsch's position on the lake.

Nitsch, who serves on the Bollinger County board of the Missouri Farm Bureau, said he agrees with the Missouri Farm Bureau on the lake. The board voted unanimously to oppose the lake.

The Bollinger County Farm Bureau and Nitsch oppose taking private property for public use. Landowners with whom he has spoken also oppose the lake.

In addition, the lake would have required a sales-tax increase, an idea people don't like, Nitsch said.

As he has done door-to-door campaigning, a number of people have asked Nitsch his position on the project.

"I've been solidly against this from day one," Nitsch said. "I'm not comfortable with the lake project. I thought it was important to take a stand and not be wishy-washy on the issue."

Nitsch said the key issues in this campaign are improving infrastructure and encouraging economic development. The presiding commissioner is in a position to work for both.

"Many people think the county commission only deals with county roads," he said. "But that isn't true. The commission also works on state highways and other roads."

Likewise, the commission is involved in attracting business to the county, he said. "We need cooperation with the county and city governments," Nitsch said. "The presiding commissioner also serves as a spokesman for the county."