L&T Publisher Earl Watt

I have heard some people tell me the upcoming candidates forum will not have the question, “Do you support a public vote for wind farms?”

I don’t believe that for a second.

The Liberal Chamber of Commerce represents all views in a community, and since there has been a poll that supports a public vote by 72 percent of respondents, and since neighbors of the areas affected have already petitioned to force a super majority vote of the Seward County Commission to allow a conditional use permit for corporate wind farming, I have no doubt the question will be asked at the 6 p.m. forum Wednesday.

Another comment shared with me is that there will be an effort to deny a public vote on the grounds of the cost of a special election.

The cost of a one-question election would be minimal compared to the already $330,000 spent on legal counsel negotiating the wind issue.

Recently the Seward County Treasurer’s office had to incur additional costs to reimburse the taxpayers for the 17 mill increase that was rescinded, and no one thought the refunds should have been skipped just because of the cost of processing the payments and issuing the refunds.

To think the cost of an election is a reason to deny the people their right to be heard is absurd.

Some also believe that the wind companies will reimburse the county for legal fees only if wind is eventually passed by the commission, which seems very inappropriate of a suggestion to make. Our commissioners should be free of financial entanglements in considering whether or not the people of Seward County want wind farming.

I’m neither for or against wind farming, but I am 100 percent in favor of the public’s right to be heard on an issue that will have long-lasting effects on their home.

The idea that only property owners should be able to vote was rejected along with slavery in this country. Landowners cannot overuse the water or abuse the land in a way that affects everyone else, and wind development is no different.

The public should be able to have its voice heard, and the only way to do that is by allowing a public vote.