Houston should be progressive

(This letter is addressed to Mayor Sandy McDonald, Houston Councilmembers and Houston residents.)

With the high cost of fuel oil and the detrimental impact this will have on heating our homes and skyrocketing cost to commute to work, as a council, it would be prudent and responsible for Houston to follow Fairbanks’ lead, both for the short-term and long-term benefits for our community and the Valley.

As a council do we wait until our residents have to decide if they buy food to feed their families or fuel to heat their homes? It’s time to take the lead working with the Borough, state and businesses to create alternatives. Houston has the opportunity to be leaders in Alaska for alternative fuels for heating homes, businesses and producing electricity.

Houston is what Wasilla was 15 years ago. It is not a matter of if we will grow but when this growth will come. Having a planning commission in place to work with business to create alternatives for our community is a must.

There is no overnight cure for the rising cost of fuel, and as a council, it is time to roll up our sleeves to do our part to make alterative solutions available for the residents of Houston.

Roger Purcell

Houston City Council

Councilmember seat G