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February 23, 1991 <br />Mr. Mark E. Bernhardson <br />City Adninistrator <br />City of Orono <br />Post Office Box 66 <br />Crystal Bay» Minnesota 55323 <br />Pga 2 s isei <br />J ^ <br />Dear Mr. Bernhardson, <br />As we discussed yesterday, I was very disheartened to learn that <br />the south route proposal for Highway 12 extension had been <br />quietly changed in January by Mr. Dallum to now clearly parallel, <br />if not directly overlay, a significant portion of the Luce Line <br />Trail. I say quietly, because to ey knowledge no public <br />announceaent has been nade as yet and it did not come up at the <br />Planning Commission meeting last Wednesday evening. <br />The reason for the change seems obvious. You confirmed it in our <br />telephone conversation. The original south bypass was simply too <br />close to Woodhill Country Club. I don’t have to see the <br />membership roster to understand fully what wrath Mr. Dallum may <br />have incurred when the original route was published. <br />Also, as I mentioned, it would not be honest of me if I didn’t <br />admit the biggest cause for my disheartenment c^mes in seeing the <br />new south route now passes directly through r " home and <br />property. The powerlessness I feel today is a ^ost <br />indescribable. It seems we are at the complete mercy of this <br />huge Juggernaut of MNDOT bureaucrats, their hired consultants and <br />faceless "political” pressures to protect a private playground. <br />What are a small number of private property owners and those who <br />care about the environment to do in the face of this? I believe <br />I speak for the true feelings of many, many people. <br />All the personal whining aside, I’d like to share an equally <br />disheartening concern that should be of greater interest to all <br />residents in this area. It’s the impact this new route, if <br />adopted, will have on the Luce Line Trail, wildlife, public <br />rocreation and perhaps, most importantly, the very fragile <br />balance between preserving the environment in some significant <br />fashion and the seemingly incessant demands of our "move ever <br />faster, ever farther, at any coat" society. <br />At the December meeting at the high school, I asked Mr. Dallum <br />directly what the status was of things like the Luce Line Trail <br />and the Orono public golf course. He described what he called