Respect property owners’ rights, too
By Mark and Linda Baumann | Winona

This is to the Winona County Board: Please think twice before the approval of some of the proposed ordinances. Why are you making ordinances for private land owners, like myself and others who own the bluffs? As it states in the pamhlet by BLEW, bluffs create the beauty that draws people to the Winona area. More buildings and roads visible from the valleys will only degrade our community.

It sounds to me like by passing the ordinances; it is just a sneaky way of taking private land out of use and keeping the tax base revenue. If you really want to save the bluffs, get the House and Senate involved, allocate funds that can be used to purchase the land, only then, it will truly belong to the people.
If your ordinance passes, you took our land out of use for the benefit of others. The Minnesota Constitution, article one, section 13, states private property shall not be taken, destroyed or damaged for public use without just compensation. Are there going to be tax breaks? Do you think Fountain City and Alma are eyesores? Read some history about these towns, you might learn something about them.

Is there a need for another park? Well, maybe we could work out a deal like the city did.

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