The following are taken from the Boone County Journal for Friday, 10/26/2012
Mr. Marcellus also paid for an ad.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Who are members of the Fox Indian Group?
Mr. Ellingson is one of my four Republican opponents in the District 1 Boone County Board election.
The following is taken from page 3 of Friday, 10/26/2012, Boone County Journal
Dean Marcellus speaks regarding the school sales tax
The following are taken from the Boone County Journal for Friday, 10/26/2012
The also is a paid advertisement.
Only 5 of the 15 Candidates for County Board Respond to questions from Farmland Protection Project
The above is taken from the Farmland Protection website: http://fppbc.org/
Apparently only five candidates need the votes of farmers or at least the farmers who are trying to save the county’s farmland.
Bill’s response to Farmland Protection Project request
Bill’s response to Farmland Protection Project request was based upon these three questions which were sent by letter on October 4, 2012. The complete letter follows the response.
Click on the photocopy to enlarge:
A few years ago many county residents feared that Boone County was becoming a massive subdivision with few if any working farms. The “Great Recession” changed many of our views. The major concerns today are: the number of empty and foreclosed homes in the towns and rural subdivisions; the falling real estate values and tax base; and JOBS, JOBS, JOBS.
Now is a very opportune time to review farmland protection programs and possibly alter them to today’s realities. Unlike residential real estate, farm land has increased in value over the last five years. That may make some farmland protection programs prohibitively expensive. National, state, county and municipal budgets are under heavy stress; subsequently government funds for farmland protection are subject to possible cuts.
Farm land protection is important to Boone County because Boone County will consist primarily of farmland for the next twenty to thirty years. During that time government and the county’s farmers must construct innovative plans to maintain productive farm land for the generations yet unborn.
Abiding closely to zoning ordinances and the Comprehensive Plan is the county’s primary tool. Industrial development as well as new residential subdivisions should be confined to the designated areas. This must be done without partiality.
There appears to be very few farms applying for the Agricultural Conservation Easement. Farmers often do so based upon their personal beliefs and generosity. Their gifts should be told in the local news media. Perhaps a plaque describing their donation should be placed at a prominent public place such as the statue at the fairgrounds.
The zoning ordinance granting a home site in exchange for agricultural easement appears to have been used just once. Perhaps the ordinance needs more publicity and perhaps to be revised. A sunset clause or a mandated county board review of the ordinance may encourage farmers and investors to apply for this zoning change now.
I trust that I have answered your three questions. My answers are very different from my thoughts of two or three years ago. In my view the “Great Recession” has changed the course of economic development for some time to come. Unfortunately I see no way for the county to increase funding for farmland protection in the next several years based upon the severity of county finances. However it should not change our furor to responsibly protect America’s and Boone County’s farmland. I look forward to reading all the candidates thoughts on this important topic.
BILL PYSSON
Democratic Candidate
Boone COunty District #1
Boone leaders disagree on wind energy comments - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
ZBA Chairman Norm Stimes repeatedly asked residents to focus on the text amendment at hand. Issues surrounding specific projects are addressed in special use permits; zoning code amendments address general requirements of all wind power projects.
“What I’m hearing is emotional reaction without a straightforward, calm presentation of a proposal,” said Darrel Davis, who a member of the ZBA. “It is ridiculous. I would just (like them to know) how it hurts their cause to perform like this.”
However, ZBA member Joan Krumm said all testimony must be heard, no matter how long it takes. She said she intends to base her vote only on information presented during these meetin
Read the following to read the entire article: Boone leaders disagree on wind energy comments - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
Tax Policy Center in Spotlight for Its Romney Study - Yahoo! Finance
By ANNIE LOWREY | New York Times
That study found, in short, that Mr. Romney could not keep all of the promises he had made on individual tax reform: including cutting marginal tax rates by 20 percent, keeping protections for investment income, not widening the deficit and not increasing the tax burden on the poor or middle class. It concluded that Mr. Romney’s plan, on its face, would cut taxes for rich families and raise them for everyone else.
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