Letter to the Editor: " If anybody is going to do what's best for our community, it's our own community members"

(Jesse Mulert of Decorah has submitted the following Letter to the Editor):

"Because I live out of town, I won't get a vote on May 1st, but I still want Decorah to buy out Alliant, our current provider. Not to raise the hackles on my country neighbors, but don't be a stumbling block just because we can't vote: we don't have a choice with Alliant either. If another company bought the same section of the grid, do you think we'd get a say then?  A new boss is the same as the old boss that way.

But the new boss is better in many ways for many folk. First of all, at least some people who live here locally will get a say. Right now, with Alliant, your voice is equal to the number of shares you own. Not speaking for you, but I own zip. If anybody is going to do what's best for our community, it's our own community members, not some far-off investors.

Second, rates should go down, and that means we're all saving money every month. Sure, Alliant paints a dark picture, but that is in fact their job. An independent study predicted a 30 percent rate drop, and just looking at a map of Iowa's many municipal utilities says there's some truth to that claim.

Third, it's really a good deal for those of us past the city line: we get the benefit of a stronger county seat without taking on a taxpayer's liability. If things go bust, townsfolk will need to balance the budget. If things go well, we'll benefit from the boom. We'll drive the same streets and go to the same hospitals. We'll be at the parades and parks and take part in all the other public goods from which everybody benefits.

Plainly, I don't see that we out-of-towners have standing to gripe about Decorah's business dealings. Disenfranchising townfolk or college students over feeling left out is just stubborn and mean-spirited. Even if though I don't get to cast a ballot, I benefit and so do my neighbors. That's why I want Decorah to power my home. Ask your friends and family to vote "Yes" on May 1st."