Loss of farmland is a loss of our heritage

To the editor:

In an article headlined “Location, location, location” in the Sept. 7 issue of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, school board member Lynn Gattis said that she wants “no part” of the site selection committee for Mat-Su Borough schools. I agree that Gattis should not be a part of the process, but only because there is a personal conflict of interest specific to one of the sites currently farmed that is being targeted for a new school. Destroying prime farmland for a new school helps eliminate her competition in agriculture.

I applaud Assemblyman Jim Colver for working toward transparency and allowing the public to be involved in the process. If public input is not a part of the process for how our local land is used, the quick and unnecessary destruction of valuable farmland could easily be the result. Loss of farmland also is a loss of our heritage and hurts our economy.

Those who care about farmland should mark their calendars and attend two upcoming meetings. There is a joint assembly-school board meeting at 6 p.m., Sept 11, and the School Site Selection Committee at 6 p.m., Sept 12. Both meetings are at the school district administration building and the public will have an opportunity to speak. There are alternative sites on non-agricultural land for building the new Palmer elementary school that have been researched and presented to the site selection committee.

Decisions made on this school site will set the precedent for using existing farmland for many years to come. Let’s make a statement and stand up to protect farmers and their land, the Mat-Su Valley’s most valuable renewable resource!

Matthew J. Beck

Palmer