What effects will the wind turbines have on the hills and bluffs that provide “landscape beauty” to Monroe County? The hills and bluffs will have lost the quintessential ingredient of "landscape beauty" which I call "character.”

You people on the town board who have signed contracts with the wind company need to resign as your presence on the board is now a conflict of interest. You were elected to manage roads and provide services like garbage pickup, not going door-to-door selling for the wind company.

Our ridges are not a good fit for these massive towers.

That’s about 20 percent of your electric bill coming back to Invenergy in the form of tax credit from your federal tax dollars.

I supported a wind farm development on the Ridge, choosing to investigate other developers rather than sign an easement contract with Invenergy/Summit Ridge Energy Corp. After extensive research, I have changed my position.

The people of Kewaunee County learned their lessons the hard way.

Now after much research, including attending a wind conference in Madison, I believe wind turbines do not fit on our ridgetops.

In my opinion as a realtor and architect, the true asset in Monroe County is to develop a recreational industry. With its location close to Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, Wisconsin Dells, and the Mississippi River, and with the beautiful bluffs, ridges, and picturesque valleys inhabited by Amish settlements, this area has the potential to attract weekend tourists and vacationers, bringing business and employment to thousands of county residents and enterprises. This potential will be lost by the construction of wind turbines, which will pollute the landscape with towers and power lines.

Currently this is an area known for agriculture, rural residential and recreational. Following the guidelines in the ordinance, commercial wind farms will change the character of the ridge and of the county. Is this acceptable? Will land values be affected? Do economic advantages outweigh any problems that may develop? Monroe County residents need to be involved. Come to the public hearing to share your thoughts.

Farmers who have signed contracts have signed away rights to their land. The needs for the wind farm will come first.