My family has enjoyed the quiet solitude of the Central Sands area for almost 25 years from property near Twin Lake on the Waupaca-Waushara County border.
I’ve closely followed the unfolding Little Hope-local government fracas and enjoyed Chairman Klein’s recent thumbnail sketch of the dam’s history. But he fails to tell the whole story.
I submit the “survey” of residents contending support for the dam is contingent upon the county’s taxpayers footing the bill for repair and maintenance. The survey is about as realistic as Klein’s bogus “Little Hope Lake District,” of which the state Department of Revenue and the state Department of Natural Resources have no record. The “lake district” only exists in the mind of its creators. It is recognized by no state authority.
Klein’s belief that the full Waupaca County Board must resolve this issue is pure folly. A dinky dam that’s fallen into disrepair in the town of Dayton certainly does not merit the full board’s attention. Sensibly, that’s why local government has a committee process.
The linchpin of this dilemma is: who pays for the dam? Why should local taxpayers pay for a dam that creates a “faux pond” for the personal pleasure of the few “shoreline” residents? That hardly seems fair to our taxpayers, does it?
Suffice to say, from my perspective, restoring this beautiful, natural river back to its previous state allows all of us to enjoy the meandering, trout stream and to relive the “good old days” when canoes used the waterway.
An entrepreneur would explore the new opportunities this new circumstance presents and respond accordingly. I look forward to watching our local business community seize the moment when this natural beauty is restored.
Joseph H. Quick
Waupaca