Letter to the editor: City, county shouldn’t antagonize rural residents

Can I believe what I read? As reported in The Jamestown Sun:

Regarding the issue with Stutsman County Rural Water: “They (the state who provides about 25 percent grant money for rural water) could say ‘we’ll withhold grants if you don’t play nice with the municipalities.’” — Mayor Katie Andersen.

Regarding the Stutsman County Commission not funding for an entire year the South Central Dakota Regional Council: “I didn’t stab anybody in the back and I haven’t thrown any rocks and I haven’t done anything,” Stutsman County Commissioner Craig Neys shouted at Carrington Mayor Don Frye. “I wanted to have a mild discussion, and Deb (Kantrud, SCDRC executive director) was the one who woofed this all up.” “I’m sure you (mayor of Carrington Don Frye) wake up in the morning and think ‘how can I help Jamestown, North Dakota?’” — Stutsman County Commissioner Craig Neys.

Regarding SRF Consulting: The zoning change (for Eventide expansion) had been recommended for approval by SRF Consulting. “Our recommendation was based on the compatibility of the land use with residential neighborhoods.” — SRF planner Cindy Gray

Jamestown is a rural community that depends on the rural people coming to Jamestown to do business and spend their money here. It also strives to be a hub of importance for the people in the smaller communities that surround us and reaches beyond the borders of Stutsman County. Why is the city and the County Commission bent on antagonizing them? How about the city play nice with the rural people and try not to control them through extraterritorial zoning authority and usurping territory?

Deb Kantrud and South Central Dakota Regional Council are valuable assets for Jamestown and its employment. Frye is a well-respected mayor and is known statewide for his work. He and his wife (who is employed by a Jamestown business) own a home in Jamestown in addition to their Carrington home.

SRF Consulting? Why? It may be compatible, but consider all the people who were eligible to protest signed the letter of protest. Tell me again — why was SRF hired? Was it so the Planning Commission members and the City Council could pass the buck? I hope not.

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion, letters