Iowa Defense Alliance

An alliance of Iowans determined to defend traditional Iowa values.

Proposed Lakes Surrounds Me with Questions

News of the Clarke County reservoir controversy has opened lingering questions. I can relate to this issue as my county also has a similar controversy.

 

If I were facing life threatening surgery and treatments, I would want to know all my options and describe the least invasive options. I continue to have questions and I want truthful answers from officials who would have no reason to leave out solutions for a less invasive outcome. 

 

I used to trust what I read and trust the officials in charge to make the right decisions on such matters. My trust was sunk when the lake issue heated up and I learned not to believe everything in print concerning proponents of our lake.

 

In the lake issues, the statements are often from those who would benefit financially or further career ladders. Lake studies include birdwatching and lake users that are all but believeable. If that is how they base the success of a lake, then it is no wonder our federal government is broke. 

 

Another question is about job creations. We hear that nearly everyday when discussing the stimulus and it is the same for the lake issues. Jobs are created for the building of the structure but these are not lasting jobs. 

 

In our county, some towns get drinking water from river sources and others have wells.

If a drought would happen, everyone would need to conserve. Reservoirs would be the same and there would be the possibility of rationing there also. 

 

A recent letter to the editor wrote about one of Clarke County’s lakes filling in with sediment. If we can’t take care of what we have, why are we building more? Can that lake be repaired and used for a water source? 

 

It seems that both my county and Clarke are using commissions that are making the decisions. These people are not elected but do they have the authority to condemn?

 

In consideration of our nationwide economic struggles, I just want lifechanging decisions to be fair and justified. Recreation and housing developments are not reasons to force evacuations and condemnations. I think we deserve this issue to be put under an in-depth evaluation. Is that too much to ask?



June 28, 2009 - Posted by countrybarn4me | Politics | , , , ,

10 Comments »

  1. A very thoughtful post. If only those who wish to use the excuse of water when really recreation, added wealth, and power seem to be the root of the lake issues in Iowa.

    For the sake of the farmers and landowners we can only hope that keeping this issue in the lime-light will slow down the threats of condemnation.

    And, I no longer trust government officials or even citizens that make up boards. There is just too much at stake here for trust -which already seems to me in the case of Clarke County to have been violated.

    Comment by Interested Iowan | June 28, 2009 | Reply

  2. Your point is well made that life changing decisions such as these ought to be be fair and justified….too often they are based on self interest and distorted facts (i.e. lies!)

    Nor in my opinion should Individuals be FORCED by law to sacrifice property and/or livelihood for the sake of community.

    Comment by neighhay | June 28, 2009 | Reply

  3. Great post. Somehow the “right to property” has been lost.

    Comment by Iowans Rock | June 29, 2009 | Reply

  4. Really , land for lakes is the extreme to “spread your wealth”! They want your home, your job, and your future.

    Comment by swireader | June 29, 2009 | Reply

  5. Not to mention the horror that our representatives vote yes for things they never read!

    Comment by swireader | June 29, 2009 | Reply

  6. How many Iowans would want to see their home in the bottom of a lake? The point is, these people did not expect this to be happening to them- to be robbed by fellow Iowans who see the profit that can come their way.

    Wake up, Iowans. This could happen to the rest of us. We could be spending precious years of our lives fighting for our property, using our life savings to defend ourselves from those who want our homes.

    Continue to keep us updated.

    Comment by Rita | June 29, 2009 | Reply

  7. After some nasty floods of 1947 and some in the 50s the army corp of engineers decided to build Lake Red Rock Dam and Sailorville Lake Dam it was supposed to control flooding. What are the key words those lakes are now all about ? Recreation ! That’s right boating, fishing ,water skiing ,jet skiiing. The only amount of flood control is how much they choose to flood those below each dam when the lakes get to high.Like last year didn’t seem to me to be to worried about those flooded out below they was more worried about having the boat ramps open for the 4th of July weekend. I have the experience of land taken away from my parents to build a high school on they made a offer to my parents. They didn’t want to sell the land they was told take the offer or they would condemn it and take it. I’m no fan of that at all. I hope you can stand up and defeat this from happening to you in Clarke County.

    Comment by Woodrow | June 29, 2009 | Reply

  8. Mark Twain once said if you didn’t read the newspaper you was uninformed. And if you read the newspaper you was misinformed. I don’t know who or what to trust anymore. I trust myself and few friends. I do not trust any politician as far as i could throw them and i sure couldn’t throw Chet Culver very far. Keep up the fight in Clarke County good luck. I think enough land has been taken from people already . We don’t have enough lakes to go have fun on ? If the developers have this problem they should go to Minnesota isn’t it called land of 10,000 lakes won’t even have to build one up there. Leave Iowa farm land alone and the people who live on it !

    Comment by iowanforabetteriowa | June 29, 2009 | Reply

  9. Rita- if anyone lives in a “watershed” they are at risk of their homes and land under water and under seige. Had landowners known the risk, I doubt many, if any, would have paid into any watershed project.
    I can’t think too many would want to even think their home is at a bottom of a lake.

    Comment by swireader | June 29, 2009 | Reply

  10. I hope it helps in some concrete way for those in Clarke County and your county, CB4me, to know that there are those who are taking note of the Iowans who covet the property of others.

    This greed is a sin from many stand points. Lying,and conniving to get their way.

    Keep up the good work here.

    Comment by Nothing but the truth | June 29, 2009 | Reply


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