Letter to the Editor - Feller

Posted

To the Editor:
This letter is to make patrons of Mid-Dakota Rural Water aware of a policy change that occurred April 10.  It’s policy 309 and addresses refused easements. The previous policy would not allow water hook-ups if a landowner had ever refused an easement on their land. The new policy lets consumers receive water if they’d refused an easement. as long as it has been six or more years since the refusal. This policy was approved by eight board members with one dissenting vote.   
If you look at a refused easement, in some situations the line can be run through a road ditch with minimal additional cost. In other situations, a line may need to be rerouted a great distance, at great expense, to avoid a landowner who wouldn’t grant the easement. Any additional costs are being paid by other users in an increased water bill.

When I questioned my board of director about the change she told me that landowners who had refused an easement had paid their dues over time.  With that type of rationale, it looks like you could rob a bank, serve your time in jail, and not pay back the stolen money. I met with the board of directors on August 14 at their board meeting and requested they change the policy, so that if land has changed hands then a hook-up would be possible on land that had been previously refused an easement. If the land had not changed hands then a hookup would not be allowed. The board decided not to make a change to the policy.
Do you believe we need to pay for these additional costs? If you agree with me, I encourage you to contact your  board representative or management of Mid Dakota Rural Water.      
Jim Feller
Blunt