Recently I was thinking how nice it would be to have some type of small park or picnic area in our township. A place that kids might ride their bikes to if they wanted to fish on a hot summer's day. After a long day at work, families could enjoy a picnic under the cool shade trees and listen to the water as it flows over the dam.

What a tranquil way to wind down. What a thoughtful way to thank the taxpayers who surrender close to a third of all that they earn just because of our current tax system.

I have a great idea! Why not save $70,000 of our tax money and keep Siloam Dam intact? I love seeing the autumn leaves reflecting in the water. When ice and snow cover the trees and the dam in winter, it is almost like a Currier & Ives painting. Have you ever felt refreshed as you drove home from work and saw the new green leaves opening on the trees surrounding the dam?

Has anyone thought about all of the fishermen who have fished at the dam through the years? On opening day, the anglers are elbow to elbow! A common sight for those of us who live on Siloam Road are kids on bikes holding fishing poles across their handlebars as they peddle to the dam to fish.

If the dam should ever break, there would not be a flood. There is no threat to our community because the dam is old. Don't you dare say it has to be destroyed to return things back to how they used to be. If that is your argument, what about these projects that confiscate farmlands, level trees and spread blacktop where grass used to be? I don't care how many grants etc. are allocated for the project, ultimately the money is tax money and it is being spent in ways the taxpayers who live here aren't happy about!

Those in Greene Township should be able to vote about the dam. Those who live around Walker Road should have had the final say about Exit 17. Taxpayers living near Letterkenny should have the final say about the proposed ethanol plant. People who will not be affected by these projects should not make these decisions.

If the ethanol plant is built, the air will smell. We may have normal, natural "country" smells to deal with, but we knew that when we bought property in the country. If we wanted the smell of a plant, we'd have moved to Pittsburgh.

I heard that with all of the ammunition at Letterkenny, building the plant will either cause our area to be a prime target for terrorists who want to hear a big boom, or Letterkenny will have to cut back on the amount of ammunition it handles (which would probably cost us a few jobs).

Has anyone decided what to do if there is an emergency evacuation because of the plant? How will they evacuate the prisoners (who will be) residing on Letterkenny? Will they just open the doors and let them go, or keep them in their cells and see what happens?

Could Public Opinion publish the names of all of the elected officials who vote/voted for tearing down the dam, building Exit 17 and want the ethanol plant to be in Franklin County? I want to be sure to do absolutely everything in my power to remind voters of each and every one of these people come election time.

These projects are not for the public good. The taxpayers need a voice and our elected officials apparently are not looking out for our best interests.