Adding fuel

Dear Editor,

Since the water issue, McCook's population is still divided on issues of importance to the city. The recent passage of the ordinance by the City Council taking away property owners' rights to their own property has added fuel to the division. Updating the animal licensing fees and fining residents "with good intentions" feeding feral cats has again brought controversy to McCook.

A better approach for people with "good intentions" who feed feral cats (instead of fining them) would be to encourage them to neuter/spay and immunize those cats. These people are good candidates for the Humane Society as volunteers. We need to use tactics that will encourage people to help solve problems in the community and volunteer rather than passing more laws and regulations.

Recent news reports indicate McCook has lost about 500 people. In larger cities with their bigger population, it is easier to find volunteers for various causes.

Does Nebraska Economic Development have ideas how other communities with a successful volunteer program bring economic development and tyourism to their town?

Which towns -- (those with) the mayor form of government or the city manager form of government -- have successful volunteer program?

Sincerely,

Dale Cotton,

McCook