Survey Says

NOTE: The implementation of a Comprehensive Land use Plan must follow the guidelines set forth in MN. Stat. § 394.232, Subd. 2, which states that “Notice must be given at the beginning of the community-based comprehensive planning process to … local citizens to actively participate in the development of the plan.”

Notice of the Land Use Plan was published on the County Website and published in the Le Sueur County News, to document the legal requirements of notification to the public. The use of a community survey, Open Forums, Open House event, and pop-up events, were arranged to fulfill the requirement of soliciting community engagement.

Recognizing that all protocols were followed in the process of drafting the Land Use plan, this critique of the process is to point out that our inquiries indicate that the vast majority of the citizens in Le Sueur County are still unaware of this very expensive undertaking which they are footing the bill for and which will direct the use of their private property, will increase their taxes, and will restrict many of their rights and freedoms. It also needs to be recognized that county officials seem to have purposely chosen to limit the broadcasting of this effort and its importance to the community. Engagement at public forums used the Delphi Technique, which was firmly implemented with strict adherence, to limit unsolicited concerns, conversations and questions, thus always guiding the discussion to produce the preplanned conclusions being sought.

Therefore the purpose of this paper is to question claims made throughout the draft of the plan that suggest broad public support from the citizens of Le Sueur County with determinations made in the draft of the plan with statements such as: “…22% of residents would choose…”; “…57% of survey respondents…”; “…survey respondents were most interested in…”; “…residents ranked economic development as the top issue…”; “…efforts prioritized by survey respondents…”; ”..top priorities were:…“; “was important for nearly 69%…”; “…survey respondents reported as most needed…”; “Top economic development efforts prioritized by…”;

Needless to say, the conclusions stated in the draft of the Land Use Plan are bogus at best, and factually deceptive. It would serve the public well if the Commissioners would take the time to reach out to a broader base of citizens if indeed this Comprehensive Plan is to be taken seriously as a benefit for all, rather than a sacking of community property for the prosperity and wealth of the County to fund societal change.

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