Two weeks ago, the town board voted to remove the Trust and Agency fund from the agenda rather than to take action on it - a strange move. I was told it would be back on the agenda at the next meeting. Well, the next meeting has come and gone and the Trust and Agency is still gone, apparently caught up in committee.

Months age, the town board asked for and received the answer to one simple question, ‘Should we remove the restrictions from the local law pertaining to how the money is spent regarding the Trust and Agency fund?’ That’s all, end of subject. A public hearing was held and concerns were aired. Apparently, the conservation commission can’t get it through their heads that this money belongs to the youth and the people of Grand island. It is not intended to be there at their disposal - to buy up as much land as they can.

According to the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan (yes, the one adopted by the town board back in 1992), based on the projected population growth of Grand Island, in the year 2002 there will be 22,217 people living on the Island. So to meet the population they would have to purchase 83 more acres of land to be preserved for green space. The population of the Island has not grown at the projected rate, but the amount of green space has exceeded the projected need by five times. Right now, the town owns 206.5 acres at Woods Creek~, acquired the 20 acres from the Hennigar property, 18 acres from the Kiwanis, and we can include the 181 acres from South Pointe. Using basic math, that adds up to 425.5 acres, 342.5 acres ahead of the projected need even if the population was 22,217.

Sam Hoyt is planning on spending $250,000 of taxpayers money on the last 27 acres - the last piece for sale that could give us public access to the river. It’s amazing to me that we live on an Island and we have no public access to the water. If you want to launch a jet ski or a boat, you have to pay or drive over to Niawanda Park. Public access, not more green space.

Its time to put a moratorium on town, county, and state land purchases, and spend some money on recreation for our youth. Why spend thousands of taxpayers money on plans if they are not going to be followed. The members of this commission never hesitate to remind us if the master plan isn’t being followed to the letter.

The time far talk is over. Get over it and get on with it. Put this issue back on the agenda and vote yes to get rid of these restrictions.

Rus Thompson