Wheeling trustees blinded by thrill of development

Why do we have Prairie Park? Two reasons: Trustees liked building stuff; some ingrained professional propensities and a dream that they will father a development (Sorry Dr. Freud) thereby getting their picture in the newspapers.

The trustees were also bewitched that "economic development" was the answer to the pot of gold. Every elected official, compared to those appointed, campaigned on the premise of economic development. Seeing a parcel of green land is aberrant to their psyche.

Given the character of our trustees, I am certain that they would promote condos in the Grand Canyon and billboards on the Washington Monument as a revenue source.

Why do they clamber for a stronger tax base? Because they spent too much of our money! They are like incessant children demanding ever bigger allowances. Consider the new building edifices and the third fire station as examples.

So our trustees evoke financial wizardry and incantations of TIF potions, performance bonds, and soothsaying redemption if only we put more shekels on the table.

But closer to the fact is that we are being bamboozled by a carny pitch that we should step up and try for the big prize promising, "You can't lose."

Wait until Prairie Park falls behind schedule and is unable to maintain their waterfall and other expenses.

Next April you will be asked to consider four incumbents to the board, two of which supported increasing the Prairie Park TIF. Unfortunately, we have no champion contenders willing to resist commercialization of open land and to fight fiscal foolishness.

Jack Caldwell

Wheeling