What do you want our community to look like?

July 18, 2016

Washington, Iowa

To the Editor:

The question is whether to support a bond for the Washington Community Y that will be put to vote next month. We will be voting Yes as we feel this is a great opportunity for our community. This is the best option for a great new modern facility built in an area where expansion can take place if needed.

Why do we need this, you may ask. Many look for exercise facilities, schools, churches, golf courses, and many other things when they move to an area. People want things to do for themselves and for their children. We feel a new facility and pool can help this community expand its recreation department and help more kids and adults get involved. Yes ? there will be a small increase in our taxes to help fund this. We feel this will be a smaller expense, compared to not having a community Y to provide programs and activities for families.

Other letters to the editor ask why the taxpayer should help fund this facility. We have to ask the same question of many taxes we pay, like schools. We have no children. Kevin went to a private school from first through 12th grade. Our parents paid school taxes, and we have to pay school taxes. We don?t object to this because we all are responsible to help make a community a place we want to live and we should help educate those in that community.

Denise grew up here involved in many Y activities including swimming and was a summer youth counselor at the day camps. I played air hockey and basketball on rainy days when you could not be outside. I learned how to make good decisions and what role models meant by watching all of the adult activities going on around me.

In the winter months have you gone to your local Y and tried to exercise? This is my only means to run when it is too cold and icy outside. The treadmills and elliptical machines are full. I wish you were there to wait with me. I even drove myself and a friend to the Wellman facility on a rainy day. Wouldn?t it be great to have an indoor track here in bad weather. I am proud when people come here to visit seeing all the wonderful things we have done to our community, so why should this not be one of them?

When you cast your vote, please remember to vote for what you want our community to look like in the next 10, 20 or 50 years down the road. Remember the sacrifices others made years ago for us, have given us what we have today.

Kevin and Denise Erpelding