SEELEY LAKE - When long-term, costly decisions are being made, you— the voters— deserve to be given reliable information. Getting such information from the current Seeley Lake Sewer Trustees has been and continues to be virtually impossible.
When incumbents spoke at the candidates’ forum, they continued to demonstrate their inability to serve us well. Asked about what might be reasonable sewer rates, they each waffled in different directions.
According to earlier, formal board and general manager-released figures for debt (+/- $55) and operation and maintenance (+/-$36— based on short term subsidies that will go away), Phase I property owners would pay +/- $91 per month.
Not one incumbent would own those figures at the forum. Now a rumor is floating around town that they can get IT—referencing what, we don’t know— down to $40. Do we, as sane adults, also believe in the tooth fairy and Santa?
Again, incumbent board members contradicted each other about whether properties could be added to the district. One said that “all people have to do is write a letter…and they can be”. Another said that the district “can’t have any more people come in”.
A local realtor, subdividing a piece of land inbetween Phases 4 and 2, sought to join the district a while back and was rejected. His project has gone forward—being able to use septic systems with reasonably priced drainage fields in the heart of our oppressed sewer district. What gives?
The three fresh candidates for sewer district trustee positions— Troy Spence, Juli Cole and Beth Hutchinson—recognize that district property owners and residents need information that is thorough, clearly presented and kept solidly up-to-date.
We are committed to reevaluate all options so that the district doesn’t cut off its nose to spite its face. We are ready to work hard and intelligently to improve wastewater treatment because we, too, LOVE our natural environment. We also LOVE our neighbors, diverse as they may be, and do not want to see anyone pushed out of this town because they become incapable of affording to live here.
Please vote for us. We will LISTEN and demonstrate RESPECT across the board by seeking solutions that will benefit your specific obstacles. We recognize that state and county authorities can be worked with creatively when enough prep work and sensible plans are presented. We come to this race with no blinders on.
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