Stop Ag Park Re-Zoning

The following is a copy of a letter that I sent to the Delaware County Commissioners and County Council Members. I am deeply concerned for the well-being of the people in and around Shideler. As a Christian, I see a great need for social justice and reaching out to help those being oppressed and run over by governments. I feel that the reason for this re-zoning is purely greed-based. Will this Ag Park provide high-quality, high-paying jobs for residents of Delaware County? I'll be surprised if it does! I hope you will join in not letting this proposal go through. You can contact the Commissioners and Council Members via e-mail by visiting the website for Delaware County. Here is the letter I wrote:

I understand that the City-County Planning Commission will be voting on the re-zoning of property surrounding Shideler for the development of an Agricultural Park. I have read that this will bring money to Delaware County and hopefully generate employment for the residents of our county. As a Christian and person in ministry, I am deeply concerned about the well-being of the residents of Shideler and those in the areas close to the proposed Agricultural Park. I am concerned by the involvement of a very influential member of our County Council, Joe Russell. Though I understand he will not be voting, I know he does carry a lot of influence in our county government.

I hope the City-County Planning Commission has looked into the long-term effects of this proposal. Property values will decrease for homeowners in and around Shideler. Many of the Shideler residents do not have the means to re-locate if this proposal goes through. The amount of noise and other types of pollution cannot be calculated. Taxes will most likely increase to help with the costs of this project. The truth is, we do not know what the long term effects could be...water, air, soil pollution. I've seen the map of the proposed park and how it totally encloses this small community of Shideler. These people, these citizens of Delaware County deserve better!

The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church in Paragraph 160 says, "All creation is the Lord's, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God's creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings. God has granted us stewardship of creation. We should meet these stewardship duties through acts of loving care and respect. Economic, political, social, and technological developments have increased our human numbers, and lengthened and enriched our lives. However, these developments have led to regional defoliation, dramatic extinction of species, massive human suffering, overpopulation, and misuse and overconsumption of natural and nonrenewable resources, particularly by industrialized societies. This continued course of action jeopardizes the natural heritage that God has entrusted to all generations. Therefore, let us recognize the responsibility of the church and its members to place a high priority on changes in economic, political, social, and technological lifestyles to support a more ecologically equitable and sustainable world leading to a higher quality of life for all of God's creation."

Let us be good stewards of the land. Let us help bring a higher quality of life to all of God's creation...not just Mr. Russell's pocketbook. The people of Shideler, and the surrounding area, stand to have their quality of life dramatically decreased with the development of the proposed Ag Park.

I urge you to use your influence as a county government official to stop this re-zoning!