I can hear it, can you?
You know that little ditty from "The Sound of Music", sung at the abbey just after the beginning. You know the one. It's called "Maria".
The nuns sing so nicely, "What are we going to do about Maria?" But in Wellington, it is "What are we going to do about K Park?"
So many options. So many choices. Let's see, a community college. A medical campus. A business park.Anything else out there? There is one commonality though ... they all want the land donated.
Which leads me to some other song lyrics. This time from Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". Those lyrics would be ... "Stop Right There."
What is the rush here? Why unravel years of work by Village Staff, the PRAB and Council when we got this land. Probably four years of work. Now, after just a few months in office the new Village Council wants to unravel this at warp speed? Why?
First, we should all get together and tell Council and Staff that there will be no support for a donation of this land. It is worth $300K to $500K an acre ... if they are so hellbent on getting rid of the land ... sell it. Especially in these times of economic difficulties the Village faces in the next few years. NO DONATIONS OF K PARK. To any organization. Including PBCC.
Second, if I were Sunrise Senior Living and land were donated for any reason ... I would be back in front of Council asking for my money back. After all, if they get it for free, why shouldn't they get it for free. Heck, at least they will be paying property taxes.
Third, in this time of increasing fuel costs, wouldn't it be nice to have an "employment center" in Wellington that would be office-based -- not retail-based (don't we have enough already?). People could live and work in the community ... supporting all those retail merchants and having a two or three mile commute and not a twelve or fifteen or more mile commute?
Fourth, we will need the park space. Trust me, after 10 years on the PRAB we will need it. That's why the Village went out and got it.
Fifth, oh, doesn't that proposal from earlier in the year that was completely disregarded by Council look pretty good now?
We need to tell the mayor that donating the land to anyone is not appropriate. No matter what anyone says. Then we need to tell each of the Council members.
We need to be vocal about it. Let's not let the Council make another decision that does not serve the interest of the community.
What do you think?
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Comments
Tom,
I could not agree with you more. I have recently resigned from the Wellington Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. I felt that this council, Mayor and PRAB are on a totally different path and seem to have their own agenda. I have spoken to some residents who are concerned about this issue. Resident are being told that K-Park is not the only piece of land left in Wellington that can be used for Parks and Recreation. They are being told that there are many 1 and 2 acre sights available. Well, what good is two or three 1 acre sights going to do for us? Our residents will be driving their kids all around Wellington, dropping off and picking up their kids in many different locations. K-Park make all the sence in the world because of its location, the size and the fact that it is ours. We worked hard on the PRAB to get this piece of property for parks and recreation and to meet the levels of service that we need. I didnt think that we were in the business of buyin and selling land, or better yet, buy land and giving it away!! What a mistake it will be. Like you have said, Residents of Wellington need to voice their opinion to the village counci, this new Mayor and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Thanks for your Time!
Posted by: Kevin Burch | September 2, 2008 1:17 PM