I completed my online viewing of the June 13 work session for the county commissioners. The previous poster used the word bizarre -- how appropriate. This discussion of water contracts wouldn't be so confusing if folks would only listen to what Commissioners Dave Richard and Charlie Laughinghouse are saying. If you want to talk about raw water intakes, do
that but in its own context some other time, not now. If your forte is discussions on the County/City finished water contract then by all means jump right in here on that.

The contract up for the proposed renewal is the finished water contract between the City and the County, albeit its term is not up yet. Is this wild free for all premature? Yes it is. That alone should be the issue but that’s not good enough for those on the Board who have absolutely no clue whatsoever what is coming out of their mouths. Like I have said before; if not for being so serious in nature this water debacle would be comical indeed.

It appears to me that some, and I’ll hold my tongue on naming them, like the confusion as it helps confuse the Taxpayers on who actually has the best interest of the Taxpayers in mind. I can assure you all that the uncontrolled growth is the real culprit here and not Commissioners Richard or Charlie Laughinghouse. They both have done their best at laying out this
particular issue so all could read and learn. They have posted online, offered it to the FCN [where it was refused in form but dishonestly twisted to suit the FCN in print], and held press conferences on the facts, no spin, no campaign rhetoric, no bull.

In honesty, I can’t blame Mayor Ford Gravitt and his Counsel either. I personally know all these men and can vouch that none of them would deliberately want to harm a single Citizen or their wallets. The City fathers in the past have worked very hard to provide for this community
those improvements to our lives that many of us take for granted. Such as water piped to our doorsteps. That didn’t happen all by its lonesome. I give credit were credit is due. Hurray for the Mayor, the City Counsel and their helpers. You guys and gals have done an excellent job!

This discussion, regardless of the misplaced propaganda, is about providing for this county its own expanded water-finishing infrastructure. We need to improve this because we do not need to rely on others [the City] for that which we can produce for ourselves. Forget the blasted water intake for while, and forget any other dad-burn raw water intake contract that we
might be in with the City. This is about water that is treated for distribution to the pipes that squirt H2O into your glasses each morning and that alone. Visualize the water treatment plant, think about the pipes laid underground that come to your house from that plant, and forget about how it got to the plant. That is not part of this discussion. This is what runs everyone straddle first into the buzz saw.

The City wants the County to extend the existing finished [treated] water contract for another twenty five years that would in fact make this county depend on them [the City] for an ever increasing portion of our ever increasing finished water needs. We [the County] are already producing finished water in our county owned plant and have the capability to build
another plant right next to the present one for that same purpose. So you see we don’t actually need to buy finished water from the City. We can do that for ourselves just fine. We can produce water at $.80 per thousand and would have to buy from the City at over $2.00 per thousand. The need to encumber ourselves for the next twenty five years flatly doesn’t exist.

This is the discussion. Raw water intakes from Lake Lanier, pre-existing raw water contracts, nor anything else enters into this picture unless someone wants to introduce it into the picture for some self-serving motive. Obviously, that is exactly what is happening and it was especially obvious in the recent work session. Jeeze, what a pitiful circus! Saying that I am embarrassed as a Forsyth County Citizen is an understatement.

Like I said, I’ll not do my normal bashing of the obvious this time but simply give you my lowdown on how this water debate turned butt ugly. It wasn’t difficult to see plainly who was fiercely jockeying for position at the June 13th work session. It was a dead giveaway by the loud tone set by those who couldn’t or wouldn’t listen to reason. I was impressed that neither Commissioners Richard nor Laughinghouse lost it when the majority of the others did. Commissioner Chairman Conway just sat back and enjoyed the fireworks until he did his usual; now it’s time to stick my big fat foot in my mouth routine with; ‘I’ve never prevented you [Dave Richard] nor Commissioner Laughinghouse from participating in any discussion on commission votes.” That got a laugh even from me.

It was only a few months ago that Conway said on the record, that since he had a majority on his side that it was fruitless for Commissioner Richard or Laughinghouse to discuss anything about the impending vote then before the Board. Commission Conway might have forgotten about that whopper but I certainly haven’t, and I’d be willing to bet the [two at the end] haven’t
either.

I keep on wondering what it is that is missing here during these City/County outbursts. I’ve seen and heard heated discussions before between the City and County but this surpasses that by a long shot. I discovered what it [or whom] that is. There is a special person
missing that used to wave a reassuring hand around the City. She’s gone now and you can certainly tell a big difference. Before, there was never any yelling, there was not any threatening going on, in its place there was an aura of levelheadedness that was omni present. It is truly awesome what one person can do or undo. It is equally as awesome how sorely one person can be missed.

What this discussion needs is a fact filled comparison on the thoughts of both sides set in print side by side. If for instance we actually had a newspaper in this region that would be willing to do that based on pure facts instead of lies, half truths, and innuendo, all Forsyth Taxpayers
could easily see what the rumble is all about.

One thing about the recent meeting really bothers me. It is stuck in my craw and will remain there until someone helps me answer this; Commissioner Richard on four occasions asked the Mayor if he would be willing to draft a joint plea to the Corps of Engineers to allow us to rebuild the present raw water intake that would allow us to withdraw our maximum withdrawal rate.
Comm. Richard even offered his county commission vote to pay for it! The City’s present intake permit from the Corps allows taking out more water but the pump system and undersized pipe will not allow this to happen. In other words; the rate of withdrawal could be increased substantially by installing a bigger pipe and pump. We are allowed the extra water but can’t
get it though the existing intake pipe fast enough in a day's time.

The Mayor refused to answer the offer all four times, instead saying that if the Corps sent him an application he would respond to it. It is times like this when Ford’s Guardian Angel is nowhere to be seen. That’s a shame because so much goodwill could have been fostered at that very moment. Ford’s poker face should have melted at that moment and his answer should
have been a resounding “YES, I will do that as soon as possible”. Instead, he was left standing there in a puddle of his own making. Not a handsome sight nor predicament for any man. I felt bad for him regardless.

There is always a solution to any problem. It might not be to everyone liking but it should be to the majorities benefit. Stubbornly holding on to the reins of a runaway horse as it drags you through a cactus patch DOES NOT make a real cowboy. Being bucked off a few times has no shame in it either. I suggest that a cooling down period take place and then re-approach this impasse in a logical manner only with those present who have a grasp on what the discussion is actually about. It hard to think clearly when that constant drone of the uninformed is beating your eardrums to mush.

--David Milum