It was with great interest that I read Susan Lynn’s editorial, “New council calls for vision” dated Jan. 7. As I return once a year to my hometown of Iola to visit family and friends, I have noticed many positive changes. These include the pocket parks, storefront renovations, residential upgrades, major improvements to Riverside Park and others.
The Prairie Spirit Trail is certainly a wonderful project for all avid exercisers and dog walkers like myself. In the past several years, as I have traversed the portion of the trail from West Street south to Riverside Park, I have been appalled by the “collection” of scrap metal and discarded heavy equipment I encountered. This “assortment” of metal is an eyesore that is visible from the football stadium, from Highway 54 as it enters the west Iola city limits, and from the portion of State Street near Riverside Park to the intersection of Highway 54.
I have five questions:
(1) Who owns this land and “collection” of metal and why has this metal not been recycled. (Isn’t scrap metal at a premium price now?)
(2) Are hazardous chemicals being leached into the soil from the equipment engines, batteries, etc.?
(3) Who is liable if a child or someone else climbs or falls in, on or around this mess and is injured?
(4) Do landowners and businesses who live and work near this enjoy seeing it every day?
(5) What can be done, and in a timely manner, to rectify this public eyesore, hazard, and nuisance?
Surely, as Iola’s Prairie Spirit Trail proceeds south, this situation can be remedied so that we can be proud of Iola’s portion of this wonderful trail.
A former Iolan
and frequent visitor,
Brenda (Barber)
Bumgardner
Gardiner, Mont.
