Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

Why did Laketown, Utah on the southern shores of Bear Lake, recently pass a new laws & ordinances to stop new subdivisions and allowing homeowners to rent out rooms or buildings for Airbnb or to non-resident tourists? 

Don't they realize it's these people who will spend their money in Laketown and around Bear Lake when they are welcomed and have a place to spend the night, shower and relax comfortably?... Feels kinda like we made 1 step forward then came 2 steps back into pioneer times. 

What about the City Tree ordinance passed while Mackay Willis was the Mayor in 1992? I don't see the Town of Laketown or the Rich County School district replanting the Oak, Maple and crabapple trees uprooted and discarded when the middle school was recently expanded that were donated through grants obtained when the ditches were converted into underground pipes and thousands of Poplar trees that lined their banks died...nor do I see enforcement of the ordinance for new construction to plant trees and/or replace and maintain the existing trees planted on the streets and park. 

What ordinances mean something in Laketown and which ones don't...and the bigger question is who will benefit from restricting tourists from spending the night and their money in Laketown? The big ranchers, school faculty members, residents in other towns and landowners maybe... Is the reason for these restrictions; "We just like Laketown the way is it. Small and rural"? I bet those of us who grew up in Laketown have all have had that dream, though it’s why everyone’s kids move away, no way to make a living.

 My point is tourism is only a few months a year and cleaner that drilling for oil , logging or manufacturing. I don’t understand the exclusions. We can all trace relatives back to other countries. What if they were told stay out? We wouldn’t be here either. Exclusion isn’t the answer, working towards a higher road dream of, ‘you’re welcome to stay and then go without destroying Laketown so we can preserve it the way it was’ looks like. Then figure out what success is and a win win for all interested stakeholders, land owners or not. Thanks for reading/listening.  

The Lillywhites