Letter: Many at Watershed District meeting unwilling to listen

Talk about it

I attended the Board of Water and Soil Resources meeting about the Heron Lake Watershed District’s proposed Watershed Management Plan on Thursday evening. I have to say the Jackson County commissioner did a good job of getting people to the meeting. I have to wonder how this meeting had so many people of the same opinion. Most of the people were passionate and honest in their belief, but it was obvious that they had their minds made up that the proposed plan was bad and were unwilling to take to heart any of the information presented.

Perhaps we should look at some of the speakers. The Jackson County commissioner who spoke against the plan does not live in the Heron Lake Watershed District, so he does not pay watershed taxes and the proposed Water Management District would not affect him. Another person that had a lot to say lives north of Heron Lake, does not live within the watershed and is not affected by it at all.

One of the Heron Lake Watershed District board members talked about how the board was appointed — not elected — and felt that was not good, even though he has been on the board for eight years. Doesn’t he understand that the laws that affect appointments are made by the Minnesota Legislature? Has he fought the board or did he go along with it? The Heron Lake Watershed District constructed a large, grant-funded project on his property. He forgot to mention this at the meeting. I wonder how many others that spoke have received cost-share or incentive payments from the Heron Lake Watershed District. This from the Watershed Board that the majority of the speakers professed to say does nothing!

Has the Watershed Board done everything right? I doubt it; they are only human. As we know, the Jackson County commissioners have not always followed the will of the people. Enough said.

Tags: heron lake, jackson county, opinion, letters, hlwd