LETTERS: PROPERTY OWNER'S VIEW

To the editor:

I am going to ask the people in this community to walk a mile in my shoes for a moment. This is in reference to the proposed lake project on the Whitewater River. The Regional Commerce and Growth Association has formed an association called the Bollinger/Cape County Lake Landowners Association. This is not to be confused with the Cape Girardeau and Bollinger Counties Landowners Association, which opposes the lake project and has been incorporated since 1990. The RCGA's lake association says it represents the best interests of landowners who own property being directly affected. At the July 30 meeting, the landowners by a show of hands overwhelmingly opposed the idea and asked that the project be dropped, but the RCGA is unwilling to acknowledge that point.

This is where I ask you to walk in my shoes. The landowners have never been directly approached to sell their land outright, because it is known that they are unwilling. Instead, legislation is being drafted and amended to the residents of the two counties vote on whether the landowners get to retain ownership of their land. What is wrong with this scenario? Imagine your home, business, block or neighborhood being the object of desire for a development/recreation project. The developers have never approached you directly to buy your property. Instead, they draft and amend legislation so the residents of the counties involved vote on whether you get to keep your property. Result: You have just been victimized by someone coveting what you possess, never giving you the opportunity to say no, not listening to you when you approach them and say no, and leaving the decision for others to vote on.

Why is the RCGA pursuing this project? They tell the landowners that they lose out on attracting industry to this area because there are inadequate recreational opportunities. I guess they fail to recognize the fact that many people and children participate in community sports and organizations, spend time at the already existing lakes and rivers of this area, take advantage of the great hunting and fishing and just enjoy spending time engaged in family activities. Also, many people regularly drive to St. Louis to enjoy major-league baseball, football and hockey and concerts and various other activities. How many people of this area plan on moving because they feel recreationally deprived? If what the RCGA is claiming is true, why is Alliance Blue Cross-Blue Shield planning on bringing 200 white-collar jobs to this area? That decision was based on the labor force here, the cost of living, the accessibility to existing locations and the lifestyle of this area. Also, when industry does consider coming to this area, don't they intend on using the people already here for their work force, or is the RCGA implying that industry will overlook the people of this area and bring their own work force from afar?

This whole project is supposedly driven by recreation. If the RCGA thought you home or business was a good site for a recreational sand volleyball court, would you want legislation to be drafted and amended so the county you reside in could vote to decide whether or not you retained your property? Or would you rather they face you and offer to buy outright, leaving the final decision in your hands?

CHERYL SEBAUGH

Sedgewickville