Editor, The Smithfield Times:

This is in reference to Darren Cutler’s request for a growth study mentioned in your June 11 paper (“Cutler wants town growth study”). I have been asking for this for at least 12 years.

I have written in past letter that residential growth NEVER covers cost of services. The percentage varies by county, and I am not aware of Isle of Wight’s actual figure. In a neighboring county, I was told residential growth only pays for 67% of the cost of services!

Why, for goodness’ sake, do the decision-makers not listen to constituents? It took at least 12 years for this? This should have been done years ago before approving all these developments. While I applaud Mr. Cutler’s effort, it may be too late.

We built the carts, and now do not have enough horses to push it.

Isle of Wight better learn this really soon. There is an old saying, “If we do not learn from our mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them.” Yes, I played with the words a little, but mistakes is the best word for this article.

 

Jim Minton

Windsor