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LETTERS: Pay to keep younger residents here


To the Editor:

I was reading about the planning commission's public meeting and the progress of Marion. There were a lot of ideas, some of which I won't give my opinion about.

But, one stood out — keeping the younger generation here. Maybe you should talk to the people who sign the front of the paychecks.

If you are a high school graduate and single, $7 or $8 an hour might be fine . . . for now. But these kids want to go somewhere with their lives and they can't do that working for peanuts, especially if they are skilled at something.

Why do you think so many people drive out of town (Newton, McPherson, Wichita) to work every day?

The cost of living is going up and up and up but employers around here are not compensating for it. That's not even talking about benefits.

I do construction in Wichita and I make more money driving back and forth every day, even at $3.20 a gallon for gas, than I could ever hope to make working around here, plus my bonus and retirement.

As soon as we can find a house that will accommodate us that we can afford in the Wichita area . . . we are gone.

So, if you want to keep young people and families around here, you better pay up. This in turn will probably help with improvements and developments in the future.

Doug Williams

Marion

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