As I lived and worked all over this country, I saw towns that died from gold mining days and oil boom days. Some towns recovered, but most melted away with time. The towns that did recover turned to tourist attractions and recreation to bring in dollars.

I moved to the Mexico-Rumford area six years ago, and I see jobs and businesses melting to the wayside with no show of recovery, causing the towns to keep raising real estate taxes to stay afloat. That puts a burden on low-income families.

The windmill projects are no solution for Mexico or Rumford. They will not bring in future income and jobs for the area. And with the local paper mill slowing melting away, area officials need to work together and start looking into the future.

U.S. Route 2 offers a great opportunity for travelers and campers. Man-made dams and reservoirs bring in future dollars and build up businesses, and a power dam can supply power equal to many windmills. There is no deep-water recreation in the Mexico-Rumford area, or large campgrounds to attract motor homes during summer months. A large dam on the Swift River, just a few miles north of Mexico and Rumford, could create power as well as a reservoir larger than Roxbury Pond in size. Fishing, camping, boating could be the new gateway for future businesses in the area.

Mexico, Rumford and surrounding towns need to look at a plan, or fail.

Leo Turner, Mexico