There are, however, very few of you who are deeply involved in actual church "business" such as church boards who manage finances. Essentially, there are two parts to the function of the church, the spiritual side as indicated and the business side.

So it is with Exceptional Equestrians or EE . . . As you have all read, there has been much duress about EE moving its operation into Sycamore Creek Subdivision near Krakow. On the spiritual program side, helping handicapped children and disabled veterans is an undoubtedly commendable undertaking by staff and volunteers. However, there is a business side to the equation.

Originally, a secret contract was drawn up to purchase the property by EE. Only after a radio announcement was made did the residents of Sycamore Creek and the Finch Road Association learn of the contract.

Once everyone became aware of the contract, there was a meeting held with the landowners, the president of EE, some volunteers and one board member, as well as residents of Sycamore Creek and the Finch Road Association. During that meeting, it was made apparent that regardless of the concerns of Sycamore Creek Subdivision and the Finch Road Association, the contract would go forward. Those people present for EE dealt strictly with the programming of EE and the benefits of their services. Actually, EE was not much interested in hearing the concerns about location and access of a large commercial enterprise being placed in a subdivision.

It was reiterated many times by the president of the board of EE there would be 1.2 cars per hour on an average day. We later learned at a meeting May 14, 2009, there would be approximately 135 cars per week. (Two hundred seventy trips up or down the road.)

A visit to EE's Web site indicates 150 participants per week with 70 volunteers as well as their paid employees. This does not include horse trailers and service vehicles.

Now this brings us to the access road of approximately one mile, which in places is only 15 feet wide. When meeting people, one vehicle must pull off the road to pass. Have you ever tried to pull into a garage door which is 7 feet wide going 35 mph? This is what it feels like when you meet a car on the road. Consider emergency vehicles. The private road does not come up to specifications for the Washington Fire Department. The fire department would like two points of entry for a commercial operation of this size.

Now let's consider the highway access off Highway A. When there is a car waiting to exit Finch Drive onto Highway A and a car on Highway A waiting to turn onto Finch Drive, one must stop on Highway A to allow the driver exiting Finch Drive to proceed out onto Highway A. Considering the already heavy traffic on Highway A, the additional traffic only adds to a very dangerous situation.

May we consider the wear and tear on the privately maintained Finch Drive? Twice the road has been totally chip and sealed at a great cost, both to the subdivider and the Finch Road Association. Additional annual maintenance costs are incurred. The surface is marginal at best while handling the existing traffic of 20 to 30 cars per day. Presently, there are three drivers at the location in question. Imagine the wear and tear of the additional traffic.

May we consider the liability to the Finch Road Association? We have sought advice and have learned that in case the road was possibly the cause of an accident, every member of the Finch Road Association could be held personally liable.

Lastly, is it safe to choose a property with high power transmission lines across the entire acreage? Many questions are left unanswered, the least of which is why would anyone put a large commercial enterprise on a "country lane" in a subdivision? Would it be possible to have some board members explain why this is the only location available for such an enterprise? Board members, we need your help. Thank you.

Editor's Note: Name withheld per request.