Amador County – The Amador Water Agency discussed recent informational meetings about the Gravity Supply Line last week, and took criticism, while some of the opponents explained why they were getting involved.
Sherry Curtis said she heard comments from people asking “why are they doing this? Why are they not being concerned about their own district?” She said non-Upcountry residents seemed to be using the meetings to communicate their own information and “influence the people up there.” Curtis said: “What are they concerned about? They don’t pay our rate. What standing do you really have?”
Ken Berry said he only visited a few homes in the Prop 218 drive, but 95 percent of them signed the petition when they found out he was trying to stop the rate increase. Director Paul Molinelli Senior said “95 percent of the people voted against the 218 rate increase, but that does not mean they are against the Gravity Supply Line.”
Curtis said they “interjected confusion,” when AWA should be giving out information about the project. Berry said he attended the meetings because “this is America, the land of the free and I have the right to go anywhere.” He said the Central Amador Water Project owes money to the Amador Water System, and “instead of paying back the money you owe, you are going into debt on a new project.”
Debbie Dunn said the GSL “will affect my life,” by affecting the value of her homes in Pine Acres and on Mount Zion Road. Dunn said Mancebo and Supervisor Ted Novelli had spoken in support of consolidation. She said, “well, you’ve just reeled in all of the Amador Water System.”
Director Paul Molinelli said as a Jackson resident, it does rankle him when a non-resident speaks at the City Council meeting. Thornton Consolo of Jackson said there was a “certain amount of apathy at these meetings,” and people don’t understand how the cost affects other districts.
AWA Board President Don Cooper said the agency is evaluating the concepts of consolidation, or forming an assessment district, and “all of us need to get a little more creative to meet the customers’ needs.”
Debbie Dunn said the GSL was “a water supply for 7,000 more houses to be built,” and the coffee shop meetings were “not about gravity and not about education,” it’s “all about the bad economy and saddling a huge debt on a small group of people.” Dunn said they should get “unanimous agreement from those wholesalers to take on this debt,” or a “ballot with all 3,500 ratepayers.”
Dunn criticized an early survey sample that showed 80 percent support of the GSL. Cooper said it was a small sample, and more surveys showed about 65 percent support.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
