Not many of us know how the actions of our county commissioners affect us in Albert Lea and the surrounding area unless we live in the country. This year, their actions affect all of us. In October of this year, three of the 5 commissioners voted NO on whether or not to proceed with the new Albert Lea Lake dam. This NO vote has a substantial cost to you, the taxpayer. First of all, we will probably lose a state grant of $250,000 for the dam. Secondly, we will have wasted nearly $300,000 of your money invested to design and engineer the new dam. Thirdly, we will not have this new dam with safe parking, fishing piers and the ability to protect our valuable shoreline from ice and water damage.

Of equal importance, our three commissioners who voted no have told us that they do not value the right of Freeborn County citizens to have access to public waters. The land on either side of the Shell Rock River is almost entirely owned by private citizens. Because the land is posted and private, there is virtually no access to the river. This limits our ability to conduct school canoe/kayak trips down the river as well as limiting fishing, bird-watching and other public enjoyment of this great public resource.

The Shell Rock River Watershed District board attempted to purchase eight acres of land at the headwaters of the river so that this great public resource could be enjoyed safely by all of our citizens. Unfortunately, the essential eight acres were purchased by the last minute by another party to shut the public out from the river.

We had hoped that the county board would exercise its authority to acquire this land (at a fair market price) so the plans could proceed.

Apparently Commissioners Glen Mathiason, Jim Nelson and Dan Belshan do not feel that the public should have the right to enjoy the public waters of the Shell Rock River and do not much care if we, the citizens, waste nearly $500,000. Two of these negative commissioners are up for re-election on Tuesday. Please let them know how you feel about their lack of concern for their constituents by removing them from their positions. Former Commissioner Dave Mullenbach publicly challenged them to “do the right thing” and vote yes or they didn’t deserve to stay in their positions. Three of them apparently don’t.

Tom Staker

Albert Lea