Open Forum

Mr. Olson in the last council meeting voted no for some $200,000 in TIF financing. Isn't that money used to help a business build in Brainerd? What is he worried about? I don't remember Brainerd being hurt on TIF financing.

Superstores are not the answer. Home Depot, Fleet Farm, Best Buy, two car dealers, Menards, Target, the mall, new restaurants and speciality shops are 99.9 percent all in Baxter. My guess is the average wage is $6-$8 an hour.

Superstores have lots of low-paying jobs and a big time wait between raises. Both parents would have to work. We have a good council but I think they are trying to put a big Band Aid on the Hoover Dam.

Superstores will not hurt Baxter. Brainerd will be hurt because superstores will create their own little city. I love Brainerd but something is wrong here and it needs more than a quick fix.

Superstores, who needs them? We don't. We need downtown Brainerd back, don't you think?

David Jones

Brainerd

Guess what?

One year ago last May, I invited a County Planning and Zoning inspector to my house to view some building violations. I said that I could point out at least six from my kitchen window. I pointed them out and he took note of them.

He said that they were indeed violations.

Guess what? They are still there. And now there are two more violations. Meanwhile, "Plodding and Zzzzing," goes right on snoozing and cruising while the county is destroyed by contractors and builders who either don't care about the land, or really know how to play the system, or both. Not one of those violations was ever corrected.

I was told that one inspector has at least 200 violations to investigate. My answer to that is, if you make a few of these people remove the buildings or replace the trees they took down perhaps it might get across to some of them that they had better obey the law. As it stands now, they might get a $50 or $100 fine for a non-comforming building or septic system, or they might even have to replant ripped up trees in 10 or 20 years. That's a real deterrent.

Now we have people putting up huge pole barns in their backyard. I guess it's who you know. Needless to say, I'm disappointed in Planning and Zoning, particularly when I see what's being done to the lakes and the lakeshore.

Just take a look at some of the three story cathedrals and mansions being built on a 60 or 80-foot lot. They completely dwarf the local homes with no consideration made for a conforming septic system. Good-bye, lakes, in a few years.

I'd like to hear from others. Let me know what you think through the paper.

Donald H. Bode

Brainerd

Thanks, Perry

The average age for quitting a sport is 13, and the reason for quitting is because it is no longer fun. Winning has taken the place of having fun, but not for the mini Mighty Gulls.

I would like to say "thanks" publicly to Perry Platisha of the 13 and Under Mighty Gulls traveling team for coaching and sponsoring the team. Thank you from my son, all the mini Mighty Gulls and parents. Perry Platisha put a team together to play ball and have fun. Perry picked 12 and 13-year-olds who love to play the game of baseball. The Gulls went to two tournaments and ALL the players got to play. He didn't have players that went to warm the bench.

The very first game the Mighty Gulls played in the tournament at Mankato, they lost 10-1. The Gulls had some practices previous to the game, but the opposing team had already this season played 35 games.

I went to the tournament in Worthington. I listened to the coach in the dugout. Perry constantly reminded the team they were there to play ball and have fun.

In Pony League, my son was at the bottom of the batting order. On the traveling team he was at the top and usually the lead off batter. What a difference there is when you are on a team to just play ball and have fun.

My son is competitive and doesn't like to lose. The traveling team never won one game. After losing both games on Saturday at Worthington, on the way back to the hotel my son says, "Isn't this so much fun!!" These boys aren't going to remember if they won or lost, they will remember the fun they had while playing a game they love. Thanks for the memories, Perry Platisha.

Kathy Brown

Nisswa