Letter To The Editor: My hope is that voters will wake up and voice their concerns

Editors Note: The views and opinions expressed in this editorial are not necessarily the views or opinions of Oskaloosa News.

I heard this morning that certain individuals running for public office support the proposed regional airport, and that imminent domain is a part of that process. Everyone is entitled to their opinion; however, I hope Mahaska County voters are intelligent enough to realize what the candidate is saying.

Imminent domain as defined in The Free Legal Dictionary by Farlex is as follows:

The power to take private property for public use by a state, municipality, or private person or corporation authorized to exercise functions of public character, following the payment of just compensation to the owner of that property.

What is “just compensation”? Is it the value a farmer places on his land, or the value the government places on it? For some farmers, the land has been in their families for generations, and to them, is priceless, that is, it is part of their very soul and a value cannot be set on it.

I currently work in Pella. I have had more than one person from out of town remark about all of the signs along Highway 163. These people cannot understand why the airport issue is going forward if so many residents DO NOT WANT the airport. One gentleman said that he could not understand how leaders could so blatantly oppose the voters’ wishes.

My hope is that voters will wake up and voice their concerns to their city/county officials, ask questions, find out where each of them stand on issues, and vote accordingly. To not vote and then complain about how government is running the city/county/United States is futile – you have no voice in how city/county/United States’ government is run because you chose not to speak by way of your vote. Voting is a privilege!

Jo A. Vernooy
Leighton, IA