Wake up, Staples. Do you really know what is going on in your city?

First they run the highway around Staples; that killed us. The traffic doesn’t have to stop, so they don’t shop here. No stop, no shop. So stores close, homes lost and who pays? We tax payers who are left. And now we are being assessed $35/ foot for the re-do of old Hwy 10. Yes, all of you will pay also. We, who are being assessed one third of total bill, and then we also will be taxed on the other two thirds which you all are included in.

I’ve lived in my home since about 1944 and I have already paid for this old highway and the beautiful trees and boulevards that they took out. Now they want to put it back because they want to beautify my property.

Why? Who can’t drive on the pavement as it is? And the trees we have replaced are fine. To tell you the truth, as one person said to me, “Oh, your house will look like a barn.”

Where is progress? First our city was killed with changing highway to First Ave. Now it is being buried, becoming a ghost town.

Who else cares? I do! Watch your tax bills go up with all the new buildings also. These are not the times to be spending, when jobs are lost, homes and businesses being foreclosed on. Churches and schools are suffering as well.

Think about it and act. Why don’t we have a chance to vote on how our money is being used or wasted?
Margaret Dyer
Staples, Minn.