Dear Editor,
I watched the latest Commission meeting that was supposed to "discuss the possibility" of building a new golf course or purchasing the Prairie Trails Golf course. As I watched and listened it was apparent that only one issue was ever really in the minds of our City Commission. That was to purchase Prairie Trails as quickly as possible, without regards to the financial impact it will have on the community. The commission hopes that it will be self-supportive and that it will remove the bad feelings that may exist between the north part of the city and the rest of the community. If anything this purchase compounded the problems within the city and demonstrated a lack of good judgement on behalf of the commission and city manager. If this was meant to show leadership or a majority's vision, it failed to do so. Shane Krause described this purchase as providing another service like water, sanitation, police and fire. Since when is golf a necessity of life? Since when does the general public need to supplement a place to rub elbows with other business men? If the community would take a look at the events leading up to this speedy purchase, they would recognize that this group of five individuals voted in favor of spending 2.2 million dollars for the benefit of 1/12th our population, sounds like the perfect ratio. This shows how easy, our hard earned money can be thrown out the window for the sake of a hobby for 1/12th. I would also like to warn the community that the new football stadium will be pushed through just as quickly and behind closed doors as well. I'm sure that our under-funded school district will find a way to provide its share of the cost, without a majority of the taxpayers blessings. Remember, the two largest tax expenses already are the college and USD 490 and some of us also pay taxes to USD 375. It's baffling that we still can't provide what it takes to educate our children!
Over the last year, I have watched the news, read the local newspapers and have noticed something that is continually headline news. This news shows that our federal government is broke. Our state government is broke. Our school districts are broke. Our city government isn't any better and sooner than later will create a tax hardship that will eliminate the poor and middle class from our already small community. I really don't think there are enough wealthy taxpayers to provide the revenue to support the spending habits that is taking place today. I don't think our commissioners realize the impact of their nonsense spending habits have on our daily lives or the future of El Dorado.
I'm not sure if anyone else can see the problem with this picture, but I can. Think about a news headline that reads, "School District Broke," two days later same school district headline reads . . . "School District Purchases Land for New High School." It's amazing how you can be broke and still buy land. I want to know, who is misrepresenting the truth? This can only happen in America or only if you are funded by taxpayers?
Completely baffled,
Burt Long Jr.,
El Dorado
