Dear Editor,
I would like to comment on the secondary water project in South Willard. I happen to have a larger property 1.5 acres, most lots in the area are .5 acres. We moved here because we could afford a larger property. We wanted our children to experience a little bit of the farm life that I had as a child.
It appears that I will now be forced to pay over $138 per month for secondary water ($830/yr for six months of service). I consider watering most of my property optional (pasture for a couple of cows). Even my yard isn't vital to the welfare of my family. Certainly less critical than electricity, natural gas, or garbage collection. Now I will be forced to pay for a non-critical service and it will literally be my largest utility cost. More than my natural gas, internet, and garbage combined, and also more than my power bill. I can choose to turn off any one of those other services, but not my secondary water?!? The water district is quick to point out that it is a service not a tax, but I can't opt out and it is paid through my property taxes. That doesn't sound like a service to me.
I have several other neighbors on larger lots, none of which voted for secondary (to my knowledge) because of the high costs. I even have one neighbor that has xeriscaped his entire yard (no grass, only rocks). He will have to pay for water that he will never even turn on. I have never considered myself anti government, but I am starting understand that point of view.
My grievances are:
How is it equitable, moral, right, or fair for government to force me or others to buy a service? If I choose not to water then I should not have to pay for it. At the bare minimum I should be able to get a meter and pay on usage. Also an appropriate impact would be based on real costs, not lot size.
Respectfully,
Jacob