‘Expect huge loans and rate hikes’

Editor,

Heads up, neighbors. Big doings are afoot with our city water systems, with major impacts on all of us.

First, as the city signaled last week, they will shut off our treasured town ditches in early August. This is an unprecedented response to the ninth-driest year on record (according to drought.gov). While I applaud the city's concern for the ditch diversion's impact on fish and other river wildlife, this is a drastic measure which will cost residents hundreds or thousands of dollars as we switch to irrigate using metered potable water.

Second, how many of us know that Public Works is going to bulldoze a road next week, to build the new water intake structure located in the middle of the Gunnison River at the foot of the Palisades, in the State Wildlife Area? Construction is funded by grants and planned for this fall, which will sandbag half the river for over two months.

If the drought is severe enough to shut off our ditches early (for the first time in 140 years), is

this still a good time to proceed with this project?

Third, intake to where? This water will eventually be pumped uphill to the planned $50 million water treatment facility in the Van Tuyl area. Although funding is not yet in place, the city is moving forward with this project, to replace our current drinking water system, which has never maxed its capacity.

How will they—or rather, we—pay for this? To be determined. But don't expect enormous grants to save the day. Expect huge loans and rate hikes.

These might all be great ideas. It might all be necessary. But if it hinges on a projection of

explosive growth in our town, we may need to rethink it.

I appreciate town employees Pete Rice and Frank Campo for being kind, forthright and available to answer my questions. They want the public to know. They are in charge of the how, where and when. It is our council members who need to steer the what and why.

Neighbors, please pay attention and plan to attend the city council meeting on Aug. 11, at

which a great deal of financing is slated to be discussed. Let's stay informed and make sure

these big decisions reflect our values.

In the meantime, pray for more rain.

Philip Handmaker

Gunnison