To the editor:
I think it would be a fabulous idea to own the abandoned CN rail line. It would also be great to own a Learjet, yacht and Lamborghini.
If the “no” side prevails in the next vote I will trot down to the bank and see if I could borrow the entire $5 mil to purchase Lake Country’s portion. It will be a wonderful asset for me. Of course, I may not be able to visit my newly acquired asset because a pot hole in one of Lake Country’s roads has damaged my vehicle and walking down that same road is too dangerous because there is no space for walking.
The first thing I would do with this incredibly valuable property is set up toll booths at various access points and collect cash from anyone who wishes to hike or do whatever it is they want to do on an abandoned rail line. I should think $5 or $10 a head ought to be enough to pay the interest on my bank draft.
And because thousands of people from all over the world will want to come and “do” the rail line, I should show a profit within a couple of years. These same tourists will need a place to stay, of course, and I could easily make space to build an uppity resort or two. Yea, more money in my pocket. And that portion of track that runs through the “industrial” part of town could be sold off to any number of businesses without any loss of trail activities.
With a hotel/resort and some condominiums/ factories my loan is paid off and I am now rolling in dough.
There would be a trail in place and property owner taxes would increase by zero.
Come to think of it, why has the town not considered some similar plan? I hear plenty about the economic benefits of this acquisition but nothing about how it will lower my taxes. Why not?
This coming vote is not about getting a rail trail. It is about ever increasing taxes that always increase every year and for me the increase since 1980 has been some 1500 per cent for absolutely no more services. Enough already; I’m voting no.
Eric Patrick, Winfield
