Lakeshore
rules unwanted
According to an article in the Fargo Forum on Dec. 5 (and published in the Park Rapids Enterprise Dec. 8), state Sen. Mary Olson (a DFLer of Bemidji) is pushing hard on a clean lakes agenda in the Minnesota State Legislature.
Her clean lakes proposal is backed by the Minnesota DNR and one of the main features is the shoreline impact zone whereby property owners would be encouraged or coerced into growing a foliage barrier of some X number of feet in depth along their lakeshore frontage. It is suggested this coercion take the form of tax incentives. This tax incentive amount would then be made up by transferring the amount to other property owners. Another suggestion I have heard is that it would be transferred to any uncooperative property owners.
According to the article, the clean lakes proposal is receiving favorable reaction from other legislators. Recently this impact zone proposal was advanced in a meeting in Wayzata or Minnetonka and was stonewalled by the citizens attending the meeting. In discussions I have had with friends and neighbors here on Bottle Lake this impact zone proposal has frequently aroused a reaction of anger. If property owners are fiercely against this idea as I am, they had better contact their state legislators and register their feelings or this confiscation of their shoreland will possibly get approved.
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Ed Steidler
Park Rapids
