Living in the EV-W School District for 17 years, my family and I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to meet many people, and be involved in many groups and activities. From the Legion to Manannah Township, or serving on Fire and Rescue, or church and mission trips, the community and people have been very good to us. I feel the up-coming school referendum is a valuable tool needed to keep our school campus up to par, and attract growth for the future, and I am voting ?Äú YES?Äù on June 6.
I own property in the business, agricultural and residential sectors which impacts me from multiple angles, but I feel the benefits of this plan will out-weigh the costs in a relatively short amount of time. The recently passed State Ag 2 School 40-percent tax credit will help alleviate a good portion of the tax impact on Agricultural land which heavily affects our rural communities, and has been long overdue. This was something positive coming out of St. Paul this past week.
The school buildings need attention, and it is time to build a free standing sports facility that will serve as much more than a football field and track. It is located on school property that is spacious and contiguous to more open property owned by the city, and open to future growth and expansion, a plan any good business would adopt. The city has identified their plan with the southwest side of town and the school should not hang their head over these needs they are asking for.
I believe we have a good project set out before us, and I am confident in the abilities of our superintendent to carry it through. What I have seen in my experience with Mr. Messman has been straight forward, and to the point, with a plan to be on board with EV-W for some time to come. As a member of the task force, I plan to stay involved in this project upon approval on June 6. Vote YES!
Steve Schmitt, Mananna Twp.