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OUR VALLEY’S TOUGH DAFFODILS
Daffodils are tougher than I had originally thought. This is because there are some former structures that have been purchased, demolished & removed by the federal government, but yet the persistent daffodils continue to come up. To me it seems as though they are saying “don’t forget that someone planted me here” which is a sober reminder to us who remain that there used to be people that wanted to live at that location.
I appreciated Joanne’s article last month ("History Is Written by the Victors") because she outlines the process of how the Fed’s took most of Boston Township. I want to expand on a few of those items that she included.
Yes, I realize that there are some who sold their property thinking that is would further some “noble cause”. But as my neighbor is fond of saying “follow the money” which is true in this and most cases also. I have a feeling that if the money vaporized, so would the “noble cause.” As it is with numerous items handled by the federal government, what starts out as one thing usually changes course and not necessarily for the better. It is, in my opinion, due to three major things; money, power & lack of empathy to the people the federal government are impacting.
The changing vision for the valley creates confusion with what they say is important and what actually is done. One original idea was to have mostly preservation (or scenic) easements with the residents. Another idea is to have it become wilderness areas. Another idea is to focus on the towpath. Yet another idea is to lease back farms or put in overnight camping.
The recent moves toward recognition that the valley was originally developed and used by people and should be turned back to people who use it productively seem to me a good move. Hopefully that will come with the acknowledgment that those who are living in and using the valley ought to contribute in a tangible way to the privilege of living here. Of course as a homeowner and taxpayer, I would like to see the homes and land returned to paying their fair share of taxes to the township. It may seem like a stretch, but those lands could be sold back with preservation easements so that the government could still monitor compliance, but yet they would be relieved of two funding issues; maintenance of their properties and not having to allocate funding that is necessary for helping the Township. The Township funds would be more than made up by the taxes that would start coming back in from the property tax roles. I think it could be a win-win. If you have any comments send them to ray.hach@juno.com.
For the common good. Ray Hach
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