I have one more parting comment on the comprehensive planning process. When anyone talks of this process they always refer to all the insightful information gained and how helpful it all will be to everyone in the county so that we will understand what we need to do in the future. They say we can affect and direct the future now that they know all these things. The fact is though, that all of this information is freely available on the Internet from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of the Census and many other sources to numerous to mention in addition to the interviewing of knowledgeable people for information desired on any topic. A half dozen-freshman college students majoring in government could do this as a project in 6 months without spending a dime and have the same information this plan will provide.

The reason for a comprehensive plan has to do with its purpose, not its content. A comprehensive plan is the legally required foundation for instituting controls of private property. The reason we have a professional consultant is to slice and dice up the county in an acceptable manner preparing it for controls because no one locally knows enough to do it, including the GCEDC. The plan is like a nail; and land use controls/zoning is the hammer. You will not have one without the other. All of this is the same nonsense peddled here in the 1970s by the same type of fringe group of people with utopian ideas and whose only objective is to control other people and their property to pursue their unattainable visions and dreams. A now older and much wiser generation, fortunately, also had wise elected officials at the time and rejected this for what it was then and what it still is today. Sadly though, our elected leaders today are the ones not only allowing this to be brought up again but funding this organization and backing their activities, and they seem to be in lock step with the fringe advocates at the GCEDC. Also, unfortunately, many of us, especially those younger and less experienced love the sound of it all, and say "prosperity", and "jobs"; let's reach out a grab them it as if they were apples they could pick from a tree. It seems every generation must learn the same lessons over and over again.

The Greene County Economic Development Corporation has only talked about a six things in the last 18 months.

a. Westgate

b. Goose Pond

c. Zoning, zoning, zoning, and zoning again

Beware of what is coming. Put aside all of the innocuous and innocent sounding facts, figures, and platitudes. The buzzards overhead are not there to fan us with fresh air. Zoning and/or land use management (zoning lite) absolutely will be proposed and actively pursued following planning completion. All of the meetings they hold, no matter how many people show up and object, will be to no avail as it has not mattered in any other county victimized by these kinds of people. They know better than you what your land is good for. Greene County citizens must decide whether to bend over and take it, or stand up and fight it. You positively will have to make that decision, so get ready.

All of the counties around us who have been victimized by this poison pill cry out in unison to you, "been there', "done that". Just as surely as daylight follows dawn, the buzzards will descend to claim their prize, namely, many of your freedoms and rights. Guaranteed! Join those of us who are determined to fight for our rights. You parents left you a free Greene County; so in honor of our parents, let's leave it that way to our children as it was left to us.

Otis J. Russell, Switz City

In responding to Mr. Wathen let me say that I was allowed only 600 words to make a point in a short Letter to the Editor and he used 1450 words to respond. I feel a little overwhelmed, but I'll try not to exceed him. Let's begin with the Greene County Economic Development Corporation, formed in 1989 to advance the economic interests of the county. All money spent in support of this organization ($120,000 this year) is in support of its present activities. Its purpose and activities have been perverted by its present leadership since its founding from economic development issues to imposing land use controls/zoning anywhere or everywhere in the county they may choose. The distinction between land use controls and zoning is that one is bad and the other is worse. Land use controls/zoning has nothing to do with economic growth or jobs as can be plainly seen in our surrounding counties who have adopted it and should not be pursued by GCEDC in the name of development. This is the reason why the I-69 grant money is being used for the Goose Pond, Bloomfield, and the County Comprehensive Plan, none of which have anything to do with I-69 as the grant money was originally intended to be for. These plans, once adopted by the county, will provide the foundation for the imposition of zoning or land use management anywhere in the county, exactly as was intended and promoted by the GCEDC for the last 18 months. This is not a "conspiracy" as Mr. Wathen suggests, but rather a restatement of exactly what the GCEDC has been proposing and promoting since its present leadership has been in place and should come as no surprise to anyone. To those of you who think you are involved in this process, don't you know when you are being used? Do you think they hired a professional consultant because they needed your advice? Don't you know your there to give the appearance of public participation and support? Wake up folks, smell the flowers, the planning is already done.

As to I-69 and its exits, Terre Haute (4 or more times the size of Linton), has only 3 exits from I-70 and 2 of them are State or US Highways. How many exits do you think a few miles of cornfield in Greene County will get in a county where they are not even willing to pay for their own planning, let alone a portion of the costs of additional road construction for exits? Mr. Wathen obviously needs to get out of Greene County more often and look around. To the residents along I-69, watch out; the state will take part of your land for the road and the county will try to take control of the rest of it with zoning, if you let it pass, and you can rest assured that it will be proposed. After all, the proponents of zoning know much better than you how your own land should be used, just ask them, they'll tell you. I-69 will be of benefit to the county and the whole area, but the landowners and business interests along I-69 can do without meddling county officials and their cronies trying to tell them what to do. The fact that an Interstate is being built in no way necessitates land use controls. There are hundreds of counties throughout the US, especially rural ones, with Interstates and highways doing just fine without zoning.

Indiana law prescribes that land use/controls/zoning must be preceded by planning. If any of you think that step# 1 is not followed by step# 2, I have a bridge you may be interested in purchasing. And though some folks have little or no regard for their own freedom and rights, I can assure you that most others do and don't want to be subjugated along with those gullible enough to ask for it. To those who believe the rosy pictures of economic benefits, ask those counties who took hook, line, and sinker the same bait that you are now nibbling at. To learn more about planning and zoning, ask it's victims, not it's advocates. Ask the people in Owen, Pike, Daviess, Knox counties, or even the city of Sullivan, which recently repealed their zoning mistake. They will not hesitate or stutter when they tell you what a monumental mess it all is. Many hundreds of counties in all 50 States are having tough economic times these days and it's been going on for 25 or more years. If you really think the GCEDC has the cure and all the rest of the country hasn't found it, P.T. Barnum would be very proud of you. Think about it.

Otis J. Russell, Switz City

I can not wait for the interstate. bring on progress!!!