ASK THE CANDIDATES WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE

I have been to three forms in Oldham County to listen to various candidates for political office and have spoken with several other candidates about the issues in Oldham County. Development is always one of those issues that is discussed and the only thing that is discussed is, do we want development, how do we control development and what kind of development do we want? The missing question is, who is going to pay for the infrastructure to support development? With the exception of one candidate the candidates are not even bringing up the subject of who pays for the infrastructure.

Everybody assumes we will have development and it is beginning to look like everybody assumes that the ordinary taxpayer will continue to have the burden placed upon him to pay for the infrastructure that supports development. The question for the average person is, what will development to do for you? Will 100 new homes make you any more money, will 100 new homes improve your educational system, will 100 new homes give you better fire protection or police protection? If your answer to all of these questions is no, then why would you want more development? Let's think about some other things that more development will do for you. It will most definitely make each trip that you take to the city of Lagrange, to a local school, and to work a longer, more time-consuming trip.

However, it seems as though almost every politician is willing to accept more development. They excuse it by saying that they will manage it. Why do they not discuss who will pay for it? Because they are afraid of stepping on the toes of the developers. As long as that attitude continues you will have unmanaged development in this county and you will pay for it-not the developers.

Quite frankly, I have been very disappointed in all the candidates so far. What is worse is that I don't see any desire for them to change. Magistrate Scott Davis, throughout his term in office has suggested that fees be increased for builders in older to take some of the burden from the taxpayers. Of course the administration would not hear of this and none of the other magistrates joined with him.

The next time that you speak to one of your representatives be sure to ask them if you are going to have to continue to pay for the infrastructure to support developers.

If I can keep from getting sick at my stomach, I am going to write an article about the taxpayer money that is going to be spent on Oldham Reserve in order to improve the property so that a developer will take it off our hands. Just a little peek, the exit is expected to cost the taxpayers 26 million dollars. Wouldn’t you like to purchase a couple of hundreds acres and then have the taxpayers spend that much money just to improve it for you?