The projects to be funded by the 1% sales tax sound like a good idea, but… In the past, construction has been funded by the sales tax dollars, but then these buildings/ projects must be staffed and maintained. Increases in property tax to cover? Again? A telephone system run by the county…the purpose being supporting broadband—accessible and affordable to how […]

First off, there is nothing wrong with fair-minded American citizens getting together and looking at improvements to their respective communities by way of a 1% sales and use tax. My problem with the whole debacle is as I look through the ballot, I only see two questions to vote on. Wouldn’t you want a true consensus on the individual projects? […]

To Cook County residents: We write to you to let you know that the Boreal Access board and staff enthusiastically support the opportunity of the 1% Cook County sales tax and encourages you to vote YES to both questions on the upcoming ballot. A ballot has been mailed to every registered voter in Cook County including the City of Grand […]

A concerned citizen wrote and asked me what could be done to help educate the community about why the broadband proposal is important, even if individually they are satisfied with their current TV, internet, and telephone services. While as a county employee I cannot advocate for the current referendum, I can pass along some facts about the project and why […]

Imagine my shock when I read reports in last week’s News-Herald that all of the Cook County commissioners and the entire Grand Marais city council went on record in favor of spending 33.5 million dollars in federal grant money and another estimated 20 million dollars of sales tax proceeds. I couldn’t have been more surprised if I had been told […]

Money burning a hole in our pocket? Seems to me that is what the broadband issue looks like. I have some news for you. I have been around more years than most, and I have learned there is no free lunch. There is only one taxpayer: us. Sooner or later all the money eventually comes from the citizens. For those […]

I wish to express in a positive manner my support of the 1% Cook County sales tax rather than attacking misinformation I read in a couple of last week’s letters. Here are some of my reasons for support of this initiative: We would be taking advantage of a one-time-only economic opportunity, our last chance to implement a locally controlled sales […]

Thecity/county venture in the EDA is a good reason to vote no on the 1% sales tax referendum. “Build it and they will come”—we did that at the airport too. They didn’t come and we’re still paying. The failed EDA is bankrupt with a bond due. Their one-business, abandoned business park is guaranteed a loss of tax dollars. Lutsen golf […]

Letters to the editor, columns, and cartoons are all the opinions of the contributors and not necessarily the Cook County News-Herald. While we encourage readers to submit letters to the editor on issues they feel strongly about, we ask that letters include name, address, and phone number. Unsigned letters or those of questionable credibility will not be published or acknowledged. […]