To the editor:

Responding to Mr. Hamm’s unfounded concerns about the conservation easement for Orchards Golf Course (Public Forum, July 14), he should get his facts straight before he complains about an issue and makes assumptions that are simply not true.

Regarding his issue that this is a “waste of our tax dollars”: The city is being reimbursed for the conservation easement via the benefit district created for the surrounding property owners. The city had previously nixed the idea of purchasing the golf course itself (which would have been a waste of our tax dollars).

Regarding his question “Where, when was the fact this was being discussed publicized?”: In this very paper, every time it was on the City Commission agenda. The agendas are also available online and prior to that were available via e-mail.

Regarding his concern that the city supports a competing golf course and now helps bail out a failing one: The city created the conservation easement and the neighbors agreed to it and are paying for it. I don’t see that as a “bailout” by the city.

Conservation easements are a wonderful tool that can benefit property owners and cities and counties alike, and it was quite refreshing to see our City Commission work with the neighbors of Orchards Golf Course to achieve this win-win solution. If Mr. Hamm would like to learn more about them, there is plenty of information about them on the Internet (such as the Kansas Land Trust Web site: www.klt.org) and at our public library.

Melinda Henderson,

Lawrence