Lots of questions, no answers

Shannon Hale, Clinton
Letter to the Editor

January 29, 2007 11:29 am

— I just read the Herald’s Opinion in published in the paper Thursday. I would like to take a minute to respond.
The fact is that South Clinton residents have received very little information since the start of Archer Daniels Midland’s expansion. We have asked many people, many times, and nobody has an answer. This is what you saw on the council meeting on Tuesday night, lots of questions, no answers. Yet when it came to a vote, it passed without a single no vote. We all would like to be heard, but no one is listening.
Under no circumstances should Fourth Street be closed without the tracks being moved, the connector streets in place and the erection of an adequate fence. I do think that ADM’s expansion is very good for our city. But this plan to close Fourth Street could come at a much higher price for residents.
No matter how you cut it, we will all deal with heavy traffic that wasn’t a big concern before. This will affect the residents on 13th and 17th avenues now more than ever. I really don’t care if I stay or go, but I would like the time I have left here to be reasonably safe.