Freeborn County residents mostly express enthusiasm for the general idea of watershed improvement projects, but many are leery of the new governmental entity that could be created to govern the Shell Rock River Watershed, according to a sampling of opinions from members of the TribLink network.

Asked by e-mail last week to give their response about the likelihood that the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) will authorize a watershed district in Freeborn County, county residents’ biggest fear was that a new body with taxing authority was being created.

&uot;Anytime you grow new and more government, it is bound to be a bad thing,&uot; said Scott Bute, 42, of Alden. &uot;(Gov. Tim) Pawlenty is being crucified by everyone including the Tribune because he wants to stop the beast of runaway government spending. This is our problem and we need to deal with it. We do not need to do so by creating yet another bureacracy!&uot;

Jim Hanson, 55, of Clarks Grove, agreed. &uot;Just what we need &045; another level of government, more taxes going for ill-defined goals, accountable to nobody (no elected officials), no apparent way out, and no sunset law,&uot; he said.

A local group of petitioners led by lake activist Harley Miller asked BWSR to create the district three years ago, and after giving Freeborn County time to try watershed improvement itself, is now poised to go through with the creation of the district, which would be run by an appointed board of managers.

Last week, a BWSR committee agreed to recommend creation of the district to the full board. The board next meets May 28.

Despite some skepticism about the watershed board, other respondents said they were glad to see some apparent progress toward getting lake projects done.

&uot;This has gone on too long and it is time to move forward,&uot; said Randy Kehr, 54, of Albert Lea. &uot;I believe that the watershed board is the only alternative, at this point, and should be viewed as a positive step. There is no reason to expect that this group will levy taxes and, in any case, any plan would have to go through BWSR for approval.&uot;

George &uot;Rusty&uot; Hargrave, 62, of Albert Lea, thinks it’s time for action. &uot;This project or subject has been talked and discussed for a long time. It is time for action. The lakes are cleaning themselves a little bit, but we need to stop the flooding and create some water dams that will control water. I hate to see another layer of government. But we need action. If we do not do this, who will?&uot;

Others said the watershed board comes with advantages in areas that could trip up local governments.

&uot;First of all, they do have the power to tax if that is necessary,&uot; said Tony Trow, 59, of Albert Lea. &uot;Secondly, they can conduct a seamless program throughout the entire watershed system that cuts across various jurisdictions. In other words, they can develop a consistent policy across township, city and county boundaries.

&uot;As with all such new programs, one must deal with the good and the bad. On balance, the watershed board is a good thing.&uot;

Still others are not convinced that a watershed district will actually help the lakes in the long run. &uot;In matters such as these I always ask myself, ‘will this decision help or hinder nature,’ and clearly creating a watershed district whose aim is to dredge the lakes will only accomplish the latter,&uot; said Mary Milliron, 75, of Hollandale. &uot;No matter what the rhetoric, dredging the lakes is just a fast fix, non-solution that assures only one thing &045; that before long, the watershed district will be back for more tax money.&uot;