Union letters to the editor

Business park in bad location

I wondered if anyone has traveled Buchanan Street in Washington, where the new business park is supposed to be located. I question what the city was thinking when they developed this on a low grade. Looking at the lots to the south, you will see that the land slopes south away from the street where it makes a pretty large collection of water before draining in the neighbor’s field.

How is someone supposed to build on a bog? Will the city inform them that they will be building on tile drops?

I also was thinking about the people who purchase lots there. Does the city let the prospective buyers know that human waste (fecal matter) and animal manure is spread on two sides of them? The smell of the waste from Washington citizens is not the greatest smell and it also permeates materials leaving a great odor. Just think if a furniture store or car detailing shop would build there, can you imagine what the furniture or your car would smell like?

Do they realize that when land is worked or harvested that the dust and crop materials will cover their buildings, vehicles, and anything else located outside? Are these people being informed that the city burns their refuse which burns and smolders for days/weeks and will leave a cloud of smoke around their businesses?

The purpose of writing this letter is to inform our citizens of Washington of what a mess the city is in by putting a business park in a location not suitable for businesses. I would have thought the representative of that ward would be familiar with what is going on in his ward. I think when the city wants new offices they should build there and reap the rewards of their lovely business park.

In my opinion, if the city actually disclosed this to the prospective buyers knowing that their businesses will be surrounded by human fecal matter, animal manure, clouds of dirt, crop material, and smoke for days that it may be a tough sale. Maybe the city council members should do a little more research before they start plopping business parks next to working farms or sewer plants.

Thank you for your time and consideration to this matter.

Mike Murphy

Washington

A lesson on plagiarism for our State Senators

If I were an English teacher, I would have to give one or both State Senators Jeff Reichman and Mark Lofgren an “F” for their article to The Southeast Iowa Union on Jan. 25, 2023. One either copied from the other or both copied from the canned party talking points. Word for word and sentence for sentence, a good portion of their articles read the same. We deserve better. We deserve representation of the voters, not the party.

Jeff Epperson

Mt. Pleasant