LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Missing the old Vermillion

the reason there is basically nothing in this town is because the city fatheres didn't want anything to come into town for many years. Many years ago Gateway wanted to come to Vermillion--they wouldn't let them in. Gateway has cut back on employees now--but think of the revenue it would have brought in for many years. There are two business in Beresford that wanted to come to Vermillion--again they weren't allowed. They are going strong and very successful in Beresford. I though it was really something terrable when they actually had an election for Wal Mart to come in--I could not believe that people didn't want another business in town. All the hue and cry on main street about Wal mart would close down the business already here. None of them closed down. Pamida wouldn't compete with prices and they (along with a lot of other Pamida stores) closed down. Vermillion has a lot of houses sitting empty and either for rent or sale--just sitting for a long time. Now the University is building their "palace" on Rose Street. That will put many landlords out of business.Not to mention the people that lost their homes in the mobile home park that was sold to the college. I can't see where the University has been so good for Vermillion. The University has their own well and electrical plants and phone service, etc. So they pay nothing in the form of utilities into the city. No property tax either. they supplied minimum wage--if that--people to work in the small stores, people that live here and do pay property taxes most generally work out of town to make a living. Vermillion city fathers neesd to look long and hard about getting business and industry into Vermillion or dry up and blow away! They need to get away from the old attitude that "we have our college -we don't need any thing else".