Letters to the Editor 04-18-1997
Tabloid Journalism
Editor,
Times-Union:
I am writing in response to your article titled "Winona Lake's
Wilcoxson Disputes Conflict of Interest Accusations," published
on the front page of the April 15, 1997,
Times-Union. As many in the community know, I am
financially involved with Brent Wilcoxson in the Winona
restoration project. There is no one else in this area that is
more committed to this community and its betterment than Brent
Wilcoxson. There is also no other person in this community who
has better served it, as a member and president of the town
council. Brent has worked diligently to avoid any financial
conflict in his duties as president of the town council, while
costing the owners of the project many expenses that should have
been paid by the town.
If it was the intention of the newspaper to report the facts,
you should have pointed out that the sidewalks, street lamps and
curbs in the front page picture were, in fact, paid for by Brent
Wilcoxson and I. You should have also pointed out that our total
investment in infrastructure, monies we have put into this
project for things that can never be sold, total approximately
$75,000. You should have also pointed out that the increased tax
base coming from the combination of projects Brent and I have
initiated will result in tens of thousands of dollars in
increased tax revenue per year.
In any other community, the community leaders would have rolled
out the red carpet by offering tax abatement, infrastructure
investment and many other things for developers willing to do
what we are doing. I find it interesting that members of the
town board who seem to have some conflict with Brent Wilcoxson
have come to us and requested that a substantial contribution of
land be made to the city to allow the extension of a roadway
from Boys Club Drive to the South Town Addition. This is the
same community that came to us and requested contributions to
purchase a computer for the Police Department and for the
repainting of police cars.
I find it interesting that the conflicts you point out start
with something that occurred before Brent Wilcoxson even had any
authority as an elected official.
Your article also fails to mention that as plans for the
project unfolded, we invited the community to participate and
provide input to this project being paid for with private funds.
Throughout the planning process, which began several months ago,
involving concept architects, the community was invited,
provided input, and we listened and responded with various
components of the project modified to meet the wishes of the
community.
When Brent and I began reviewing possible development
opportunities for the property involved in this project, a
number of alternatives were considered, including the complete
demolition of all structures and the building of a top quality
apartment or condominium project. This approach would have
involved the lowest risk and highest potential return on our
investment. This approach, however, was abandoned in place of
the current renovation project. We have therefore taken the most
community-minded approach which at the same time involves the
highest risk of failure.
It is unfortunate when a simple poor news day at the Warsaw
Times-Union can lead to such a tabloid and damaging
front page article on the best thing that has happened to the
town of Winona Lake in decades. Maybe we should simply let the
older historic structures around Winona Lake crumble and fall to
the ground and ultimately go the way of the Billy Sunday
Tabernacle. When passing through the check-out line at the
grocery, I am always embarrassed if someone notices me trying to
read the front page articles on the tabloid rags available
there. I certainly hope no one noticed me read the April 15
edition of the Times-Union.
Dane A. Miller
Winona Benefits
Editor,
Times-Union:
So what if it looks bad. So do my flowerbeds before the tulips
come up.
How anyone can sit back and say Mr. Wilcoxson is only doing
himself any good, hasn't thought of the benefits he's doing the
entire town.
We finally have someone with the moxy and the stamina to
undertake a restoration this size. The money spent far outweighs
any profits from the sale of the Terrace Drive properties. I
really don't care when it was paved, I only care that it was
paved.
I myself am grateful for new streets, curbs, sidewalks and
street lights. It makes my daily walks much more enjoyable. I'd
really rather see beautiful Terrace Drive from a smooth walk
than a row of sleazy tenements.
When did having a part of a beautiful neighborhood and historic
community become a reason to whine?
This Winona resident doesn't care if our officials make a
little money from this restoration. I believe they deserve it.
M.B. Mullins
Winona Lake
Renaissance Man
Editor,
Times-Union:
My neighborhood would certainly like to know who the Winona
residents are who are complaining about Brent Wilcoxson. We live
on Court Street and cheer Brent's work and vision. The unnamed
woman you quoted does not represent any of the people I know.
Let's see, you are referring to the same Brent Wilcoxson who is
helping to dig the foundation for the Administration Building;
the same Brent Wilcoxson who helped us when we had the flood.
Brent who was out in the rain and snow Saturday checking the
dredging of the swan pond; the visionary Brent Wilcoxson who
singularly gave the impetus to revitalizing Winona Lake before
anyone else thought it could be done; the Brent Wilcoxson who
had to be begged to chair the town council.
The progress on the island, as I write this, is moving rapidly.
We think Brent Wilcoxson is a Renaissance Man, and he gets
cheers from Winona residents with names.
You've missed the point if you think there is conflict of
interest. The interest is compatible, and we residents are the
happy recipients.
Jane Cook
Winona Lake
Winona Progress
Editor,
Times-Union:
The progress that is being made in Winona Lake is simply
fantastic, and property owners and residents alike can thank
Brent Wilcoxson. There is absolutely no conflict of interest but
rather a mutual interest to everyone living in Winona Lake.
The fact that Wilcoxson serves as president of the Winona Lake
Town Council and is also an independent real estate developer is
exactly the reason things get done. And if one has any doubts if
things are getting done, just take a look at Terrace Drive. You
might also take a look at the Administration Building, the duck
pond and the Winona Hotel. Would you want to pay a sewage bill
for a service you were not receiving? Probably not. The old
Wheel House has been demolished and I'm sure something nice will
rise on that site. The island has a new sewage system and a new
bridge. All of these improvements have been a result of
Wilcoxson's dual role as president of town council and a real
estate developer.
It's also interesting that the complaining persons quoted in
the article preferred to remain anonymous. The only person
quoted in the article was Wilcoxson. The Times-Union
has a policy of printing names on all letters to the editor. Why
not on front page articles that cast aspersions?
The entire article smacks of a hatchet job by a few disgruntled
residents and staff writer Laurie Hahn. Hopefully Ms. Hahn can
write a followup article that shows the positive aspects of
Wilcoxson's efforts as president of town council and an
independent real estate developer and the mutual benefits to all
residents of Winona Lake. Many of the shabby houses have been
demolished, many of the homes have been restored to their
original beauty, the drug dealers and the riffraff have moved
from Winona Lake.
I for one am glad that Wilcoxson has taken such an active
interest in Winona Lake. What conflicts of interest?
Michael Lockwood
Winona Lake
Poor Journalism
Editor,
Times-Union:
I have been a resident of Kosciusko County for 31 years, and I
have never felt the need to write a letter of disagreement to
the editor. But Laurie Hahn's recent front-page article in the
Times-Union concerning the restoration of Winona
Lake was, in my opinion, such an uncharacteristically misguided
example of poor journalism that I am compelled to respond to it.
When Laurie authoritatively tells your readership exactly "what
most Winona Lakers want to know," I believe that she is not
accurately portraying the truth. "A resident who asked not to be
named," "a woman" and "another resident" are neither sufficient
nor credible enough sources to support a professional piece of
journalism that calls into question the ethics and the motives
of an elected official.
We citizens of Winona Lake should debate the future of our town
among ourselves, on the street corner, in open board meetings
and at the ballot box. I am personally convinced that when we do
we'll discover that most of us are overwhelmingly appreciative
of Brent Wilcoxson and Dane Miller's superb efforts (at
financial risk to themselves) to restore one of the most
historically significant communities in Indiana. I am also
convinced that all Winona Lake residents (as well as Kosciusko
County on the whole) benefit from the refurbishment of our town,
certainly not just Brent.
But I'd rather discuss those issues personally with "a resident
who asked not to be identified," "a woman" and "another
resident" rather than allow a reporter to inaccurately interpret
for us "what most Winona Lakers want to know."
Steve Grill
Winona Lake
Click here to return to the Times-Union Homepage
© 1997 by the Times-Union. All rights reserved.