LETTERS

TO THE EDITOR

Need to focus

To the editor:

When watching the Marion County commissioners’ meeting of Jan. 30, I saw hope for industrial development in Marion County.

Commissioner Kent Becker brought up the question of what the No. 1 driver in the county is. The answer was ag. So how did the focus turn from ag development to a battery energy storage system and a data center, as discussed during the commissioners’ meeting Feb. 9?

Has there ever been any thought to having a vo-tech school in Marion County? Ag development can entail other forms of agriculture like horticulture and agronomy.

Although housing is needed at some point, why would anyone fathom the thought of building housing first and sending the working class out to cities in neighboring counties for employment? It seems like putting the cart before the horse.

Housing first will draw only in the retirement class. I thought the goal was economic development with ag as the focus.

Now the focus seems to have changed to battery storage systems and a data center. Please do extensive research on both the positives and negatives before making finalized decisions on another form of renewable energy, and don’t allow certain individuals to use pressure tactics to make a quicker decision. Remember the issues with wind farms?

I wonder whether a wind farm in direct vicinity of Marion’s city limits would bring the same welcome as what is expected of those who are in opposition. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, as the saying goes.

Perhaps it’s time for the citizens of rural Marion County to be asked what development they would like to see in industrial or business development.

Have the county commissioners considered surveying county residents? I know, for a fact, that my District 2 commissioner has never asked for my input. As an elected official, is the commissioner elected to represent the people in his district or his own self-interests?

All Marion County commissioner meetings can be accessed through the marioncoks.net website. If you love your county, then do your part as a citizen and stand up for what is best for its development rather than letting a select few make those decisions. Strength is in numbers.

Arlene Stika
Lincolnville