Dear Editor: Poor decision-making last year by Village Trustees Paula Severson, Rene Buenzow, and former Trustee Peter Doll have had negative outcomes for Cottage Grove this year. Their actions resulted in the proposed sports complex development being canceled. This was not a matter of “asking tough questions for responsible growth” but rather refusing to follow due process or even learn what that process entails.
During meetings last summer, Severson, Buenzow and Doll repeatedly stated they didn’t understand the development process and did not show up prepared to board meetings.
This sports complex could have reinvigorated the local Cottage Grove economy, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue, including supporting the village’s restaurants and hotel. Its projected $450,000 to $500,000 tax bill would have given over $200,000 to the schools and over $100,000 to the village. It would have given much-needed athletic space options for our children to have practices and tournaments…