Letter: Correction for the recent high school story

Editor:

In a recent article in the Wellington Weekly, I’m concerned that I have either been misquoted and/or misunderstood and would like an opportunity to clarify.

Trustee Macdonald and I had attended a meeting with the planning personnel of PSD and I was very surprised, as I believe Ms. Macdonald was, that we were presented with a PSD interpretation that there was a strong disapproval from community leaders in Wellington to build a high school in Wellington. We both made a strong case that if true, it could only be from a very small minority.

At our recent Town Board meeting Trustee Macdonald pointed out that it was disconcerting that they, the PSD planners, already had land for high schools in other communities and did not seem to have the same involvement in Wellington. We spoke of Wellington’s commitment and aid by the offer to try and purchase the vacated middle school and/or working for land acquisition. We all spent some time discussing the possibilities for land in the Wellington area.

I pointed out my concerns with PSD that when I start getting push back such as “several community leaders have expressed concern” (and I believe we have that narrowed down to three people at this time and that sure as heck shouldn’t hold the weight of a community) that maybe it’s a foreboding of things to come. I pointed out that Wellington’s resolve for a high school is paramount. The easiest and the fastest path for Wellington to achieve a high school in Wellington is to work together with PSD to make sure it happens, however if there is politics involved and Wellington is being played, Wellington would most likely look into the possibilities available, one of which is becoming it’s own district.

The correction to your article is that I do not see Wellington today needing to become its own district. I see it as an alternative down the road if needed and I beg to get that point across.

Another correction needing be addressed is that the Board of Trustees in a vote of 4 to 2, did approve to pay the Boxelder fees that had already been collected (approx. $320,000). The Board voted 3 to 3, tied vote, to continue collecting Storm Water fees from the citizens of Wellington (in the water bill) for Boxelder Stormwater Authority. (I don’t think people realize that every homeowner is paying an annual Stormwater fee of $68 per year.) An affirmative vote is required to collect.

I thank you for the opportunity to clear this up.

Tim Singewald
Wellington