A Solution...

 

This lawsuit and indeed all of the other lawsuits over the last three years have been the result of the leaders of our town violating our town's laws or encouraging others to do so. Everything our group has done has been in support of the town's laws.

True leadership, as exhibited by this compromise proposal, is exhibited when leaders seek solutions to problems facing all of us.

When the issue of rezoning Paul's land first came up I expressed my concerns to John Steger about it after the (3/22/01) public hearing for the planning board. John admitted to me then that the proposed law would negate the Buffer Strip. At the last public hearing (6/25/01) we again stated our concerns about the Buffer Strip negation.

Public hearings are the forum for leaders to listen to the people and fashion solutions to avoid problems. The Town Board listened to and then ignored our concerns on the rezoning and plowed ahead with their ordinance, thus guaranteeing this lawsuit.

At the hearing before Judge Rumsey on 8/15/01, Don Armstrong, Town Board lawyer, admitted that this ordinance would negate the Buffer Strip law. Then Andrew Leja, Paul Knapp's lawyer, said that the Town Board could maintain the Buffer Strip if they wished to do so. This is all we ask, it is all we ever asked. If the Town Board had shown proper leadership, they would have added this to the ordinance in the first place and avoided all these problems and this lawsuit. Why they did not do this is anyone's guess. We certainly let them know what we would do if they did not protect the Buffer Strip.

The leaders of our group have always worked to protect the laws and the citizens of Preble. Our leaders are proposing this compromise. This is an example of how things could and should be done if new leadership is selected in the upcoming caucus and election. We need to look for and select leaders who will look for solutions to problems rather than create problems. The cost to our town in dollars and stress has been enormous and totally unnecessary. The current Town Board has never addressed the concerns of the people when they created these laws. Rather they just do what pleases them. We will continue to uphold the laws of Preble before the courts as long as it remains necessary.

The Town Board could have easily added this protection for the Buffer Strip in their first attempt at this law and we would not have objected. They knew of our objection and threat of legal action and yet they plowed ahead bullheaded rather than looking for a solution, they created a bigger problem. It has been this way all along. It is time for new leadership from people who do not want to constantly break the law but rather to enforce them and make them better. The Town Board should gleefully accept this compromise but I question whether they have the wisdom to see past their hatred and prejudice and work to do something that actually helps all of the citizens of Preble.

 

An Open Letter to Paul and Maureen Knapp and the Preble Town Board. A Compromise. Legal wrangling with courts, lawyers and judges takes money and causes delays. All of us have a common goal in ending this litigation as quickly as possible. Hopefully, with everyone happy at the results. The reason for this letter of compromise is to that end. We are concerned that the proposed rezone action will negate the protection of the Buffer Strip. You want the rezone in order to pursue the Farmland Protection Program. We are all in favor of you and any other farmer getting into the Farmland Protection Program. Our compromise proposal consists of two elements. The Town Board amends the ordinance so that the Buffer Strip adjacent to Paul and Maureen Knapp's farm will remain forever secure and maintain the goals set forth in the Town's comprehensive Long Term Planning document and thus protect not only Paul's farmland but also strengthens the law and protects the town. That you Paul open up the old swimming hole so the kids of Preble have a safe place to swim. I know that there were differences in the past, but the past is the past and losing the swimming hole has been a real loss for the kids. Many people have fond childhood memories of the swimming hole.  You should use this opportunity to try to heal those old wounds and help the kids. After all the kids are our future and blocking the kids from using the swimming hole is punishing the wrong party. So what do you say? Lets strengthen our laws and let the kids have a safe place to swim. What better compromise could there be? Everybody wins, especially the kids. Sincerely, Stan Kogut, Barb Frier, Frank Hogg and 'The Coalition'

 

Let us start looking for solutions where everyone's voice is equally valid, "old timers" and "new timers" alike.