THE PUBLIC MIND: ACCOUNTABILITY NEEDED IN ZONING PLAN; VOTERS SHOULD SAY `NO'

To the voters of Cape Girardeau County:

I am opposed to the present plan for county planning and zoning. I will continue to oppose any plan that includes the provision that the rules can be changed "from time to time, as we see fit" with no input from voters. Why would we as freedom-loving Americans give that much power to people who are not directly accountable to us? Who knows what they might "see fit" to do? My father-in-law says that a lock keeps an honest man honest. Don't you think we need to keep a lock on our freedoms?

Twenty years ago we voted on the question "Should Cape Girardeau County have planning and zoning?" It seems that we gave permission to draw up the plan, not to implement it. We have not been treated fairly regarding what is in the plan and how the plan will be interpreted and administered. It is as though the commission does not trust us to know what kind of protection we want or need. The plan we have now provides for a board and an enforcement officer, all of them appointed. These people have enormous power over the rights of Cape County's residents. What are their qualifications? How long do they hold their positions? The people who cut our hair, inspect our cars, care for our children, and manage our bank accounts must meet qualifications. Shouldn't the people who take our rights also meet qualifications? Don't we want to look them over and see if they are qualified? Let us be the judge.

I say that I love living in Cape County and, sure, I want it safe for my children. However, I don't trust my children's safety to just anyone to do with as they see fit. Planning and zoning might be a good thing, but we have gotten ahead of ourselves. First we need to take this tremendous amount of power away from a few. Then a representative committee from all areas of the county needs to sit down and decide what issues we really do need to address - junkyards, subdivisions, trailer courts, hazardous waste dumps, not horse farms, kennels and home improvements. Then we need to elect qualified people to carry out our wishes.

It is a shame that we have wasted all this time and money on a plan that is unacceptable and unfair to so many. Perhaps we should have had better planning to start with. What terrible things will befall us if we don't accept this plan now? Why all of a sudden the rush? We have waited 20 years and the sky hasn't fallen. Why can't we develop a better plan, a plan that would provide for a board accountable to all taxpayers of the county? Our opponents say that we have to accept this plan right now or we will all be living next door to junkyards. I would rather live next door to a junkyard than turn an unqualified, appointed bureaucrat loose with power to do with "as he sees fit."

I am glad to have a chance to vote on this issue. A democratic process, will allow us to change present state laws so that elected, qualified people can enforce a fair and just plan to protect all of us. Don't let the bureaucrats in government get in way of our democracy. You may say we don't have a choice, that if this is voted down it will set us back 20 years. Then I say, where will we be in 20 years if people who are not directly accountable to us are given power "from time to time to do as they see fit." I will be proud to vote "No" because it is my right as an American to protect my own freedom.

Rebecca Coats Huck

Jackson Route 1