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Welcome to the NEW Atkinson Reporter! Under new management, with new resolve.

The purpose of this Blog is to pick up where the Atkinson Reporter has left off. "The King is dead, Long live the King!" This Blog is a forum for the discussion of predominantly Atkinson; Officials, People, Ideas, and Events. You may give opinion, fact, or evaluation, but ad hominem personal attacks will not be tolerated, or published. The conversation begun on the Atkinson Reporter MUST be continued!

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Thursday, October 23, 2008

Atkinson intervenes over water company plan

From the Eagle-Tribune;

Atkinson intervenes over water company plan
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Town officials have asked the state Public Utilities Commission to deny Hampstead Area Water Co.'s application to borrow money from the state.

The motion was submitted by town attorney Sumner Kalman last week. But Selectman Bill Friel said this week they need to follow up with more detailed objections as to why an interconnection between Atkinson and Hampstead would not be in the best interest of the public.

Today was the original deadline to file as an intervener with the Public Utilities Commission, but the commission has now extended that cutoff to the end of the month. Two residents — Carol Grant and John Wolters — have also filed to intervene, according to the commission.

The water company applied for a $1.1 million loan to connect Atkinson's water system with Hampstead's over the summer. If the loan is awarded, 15,000 feet of pipe would be laid between the two towns. First, the Public Utilities Commission has to allow the water company to take the loan and increase its rates.

But now Atkinson officials are saying that can't happen. A 1,185-acre increase in the Hampstead Area Water Co. franchise area would hurt a valuable water resource in Atkinson, which the town has a duty to protect, the motion said.

Selectmen's Chairman Paul Sullivan said the selectmen have a list of questions they wanted to ask Harold Morse, the water company president, before submitting the rest of their intervener motion to the state.

Morse had asked to be on the selectmen's agenda Monday night, but canceled just prior to the meeting's start.

"He decided he wasn't coming," Sullivan said. "I certainly wanted to give him an opportunity to talk."

Selectmen are checking with Kalman as to the appropriate way to respond to the Public Utilities Commission.

Morse has not returned phone calls from The Eagle-Tribune.

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

FINALLY!!!

If they had done this in the first place, we wouldn't have had to have the warrant article to force them to do their jobs.

Anonymous said...

I just received a water bill from HAWC and I they have already imposed extra fees, I assume this is to fund the connection. I am opposed to this and support everyone with wells. I sure wish I had one.

Anonymous said...

You have to be impressed with the fact these guys finally stepped up to the plate against HAWC.

Howard Morse ain't no Peter Lewis.

Anonymous said...

You have to wonder if Morse blowing his top at the Zoning Committee might have had something to do with this? Anyone find that video yet?

No matter, what a joyous thing to behold. Dare I hope this could be the beginning of other issues that need to be corrected.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if everyone that posted on this site attacked Unitil with such a vengeance when they started to increase their electric rate in 2006.
P.S. they continue to petition the NH PUC to increase rates in 2008. Lets see our selectman petition to intervene in that!

I come from Haverhill where they send a bill twice a year for water/sewage. It's inevitable, and you have to pay it whether you like it or not. With all the other costs increasing, I know I don't like the thought of my water bill or electric bill increasing as well. But it happens! So if I don't like it I can provide my own power for my home and drill my own well if I don't want to pay another company with this service...Looks to me like everyone that is protesting something that most surely will happen could put their talents to better uses...

Anonymous said...

I understand Mr. Friel has played a big part in getting the town to intervene. A lot more so than the ET article suggests. As the first poster so eloquently put it, "FINALLY". I say, BRAVO.

We've not heard the last of this. I believe Mr. Morse's absence at a meeting "HE" requested is the start of something really big.

Of course, Mr. Morse's unavailability for comment is no surprise. Guess he only talks to people he feels he can intimidate.

Is that a ray of sunlight I saw?

Anonymous said...

RE: October 23, 2008 8:16 PM

So, you're saying the energy that has been put into trying to keep our wells from going dry is a waste of time? Where have you been?

HAWC provides water to about 1/4 of the town's population, yet they want authorization to pump a huge amount of more water out of the ground, and from well sites that sit within 1/4 of a mile of a sizable majority of the town's population, all of whom are on wells. Then, to add insult to injury, HAWC wants state loan, OUR MONEY, to build a pipeline to Hampstead to ship our water north. And, this was after Harold Morse said that would never happen.

So, with all that, you're saying we should all just shut up, wait for that sucking sound to come from our taps, and ask HAWC to provide to us, for a price, what they took away?

So, you either work for HAWC, or need a clue FEDEX'd to you. What's your address?

Anonymous said...

I want to know why our cable channel isn't replaying town meetings anymore. Do you think it has anything to do with the fact that people actually started watching and caring about things?

I want to see the morse clip of him yelling at Polito, and I want to see it it posted on here so that we can all witness the arrogance of someone that thinks they own a small town.

Does anyone know why they don't replay meetings anymore, especially since we all pay for them?

Anonymous said...

Unitil sells electricity not water and they are not attempting to deplete or jeopardize anyone's access to electricity. Their increase in rates is largely for the increased cost of fossil fuels.

On the other hand, HAWC is charging people to expand their customer base and threaten existing wells. This is not a similar situation.

Atkinson-Factor said...

Finally something good comes this way! I'm sure Harold Morse is not happy with this change in events. And to the video of the planing board meeting , i had been keeping tabs on the tv and never saw it rebroadcast....Would of loved to get it to you and everyone else.

Anonymous said...

Hi all. If I recall, if requested, public access stations are required to rebroadcast any programs they air. All you have to do is stop by town hall and fill out a form.

Anonymous said...

OK folks, let's think about this.

Once a portion of the citizenry of Atkinson became politically active, and started watching the various town board meetings, they stopped being rebroadcast on a regular basis.

THEN, they require you to go down there and submit your name on a FORM to be able to get a meeting rebroadcast? You're kidding, right?

We shouldn't be losing our anonymity to beg the town to please allow us to be able watch the town meetings recorded on equipment WE OWN!

When did this happen? What reason was given? Why haven't people made more noise about this?

Anonymous said...

+To anon.@ 1140 and the readers, The costs of fossill fuel has gone up but I do not see Unital going around to fix the street lights that stay on in broad daylight. This is a common thing in the area they serve. All they seem to care about is the profits they make and return to investors. Unital should be more concerned with making the best they can for its consumers than it does for the wasteful use of electricity that makes the cost even higher than is necessary. If they are as most of us they will see to it the cutting back of non necessary lighting is first and foremost. All towns and cities pay for this daylight use of electricity and that is uncalled for in any ones book in these times. Well!! maybe not for its investors!!!!! On the other hand ,do they care about waste when profit is off the backs of the Unital consumers?

Anonymous said...

All very interesting, if this topic was about Unitil. It is NOT. It is about HAWC and their water grab plans. You want to talk about Unitil, start a new topic.

You want to fight a problem, stay focused.

Anonymous said...

Anon October 24, 2008 3:58 PM writes:

THEN, they require you to go down there and submit your name on a FORM to be able to get a meeting rebroadcast? You're kidding, right?

We shouldn't be losing our anonymity to beg the town to please allow us to be able watch the town meetings recorded on equipment WE OWN!

When did this happen? What reason was given? Why haven't people made more noise about this?


The practice of filling out a form to request a show be rebroadcast is, I believe, very common all over the US. In this instance, there is no subterfuge employed by the town find out who is requesting the show. I put this information out here as there have been several posts asking if anyone has seen the planning board meeting.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous October 23, 2008 8:16 PM writes: I come from Haverhill where they send a bill twice a year for water/sewage. It's inevitable, and you have to pay it whether you like it or not.

While I agree with you that those on HAWC water are essentially "stuck" when it comes to rate increases, I believe you are completely missing the point of what is trying to be done here. HAWC has applied for a very large groundwater withdrawal from our town and the majority of homeowners in Atkinson already have private wells.

So essentially, there is a great unknown as to once this large groundwater withdrawal commences, how will it affect those of us on wells? If our wells run dry, then the homeowner now has to prove that it is due to the HAWC. This will be costly and time consuming and, if it is proved that private-well water issues are due to HAWC, guess what our resolution options are?

1. HAWC can drill us a new well. Now would that make any sense as they've effectively sucked all the water out from under us?

2. HAWC will, at their expense, connect us to their water system. However, once we are on, we now have to PAY FOR OUR WATER (This is especially bogus now that we are learning they intend to pipe our water over to their developments in Hampstead!)

Now does this seem fair as you've pointed out that they can and most likely increase their rates periodically?

So your analogy with Unitil off base as:

A. The majority of us are not complaining about the rate increase. Our issue is with the method HAWC is employing to increase their water supply.

B. Most of us are already have our own wells and have been (happily) doing what you suggest. That is, supplying our own water.

Incidentally, I firmly believe that if Unitil engaged in some type of energy "withdrawal" (for lack of a better word) that would adversely affect our town, the outrage and grassroots preventative measures would be equivalent to what the citizens are doing with HAWC.

Anonymous said...

As I said, I'll send the guy a clue when I get his address. Personally, I think the Unitil entries were entered as red herrings to get the discussion of HAWC off track.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:58 --

Before this blog became active with people watching meetings closely, selectmen, planning board, and ZBA meetins were all replayed on a regular basis, allowing people a much better opportunity to catch a meeting and see their town government at work.

I don't think I'm stretching reason to imply that the change in policy might be directly connected to the fact that people have gotten MUCH more politically active in town. Do we need to see the notice about spraying for mosquitos for the seven millionth time, or do we need to see our town boards opperating.

And the fact that you don't see a problem in THIS TOWN with putting your name down to replay a town meeting means that you haven't been paying attention to what can happen in this town if you become a critic.

We should work to have those meetings replayed automatically like they used to be; it doesn't cost the town very much, and it allows the citizens to become active and watch their town at work without putting their neck on the line.

Anonymous said...

ok, so HAWC wants to increase their franchise area by over 1100 acres.

They want to connect Atkinson to Hampstead.

They want the State to loan them the money to do this,

and they want to increase our rates in advance to pay for the loan to expand their business, which is going to bring them more customers and more money!

Where can I get a deal like that?

Anonymous said...

Hampstead Water Mission Statement:

1)Build a country club, with a huge golf course that needs incredible amounts of water, along with all of your other developements, including high-density elderly housing

2)Drill a bunch of new wells to help drain the aquifer; lie to the public about never sending Atkinson water out of Atkinson

3)Let out the news, the day after two water petitions pass, that you want to USE TAX DOLLARS to connect the Atkinson water system to the city that you PROMISED you wouldn't send water to; also, you will expand your water company pipes to all the parts of the town that will have empty wells by the time you're done emptying the aquifers! Cool beans!

4)Apply for permission to BUILD ANOTHER GOLF COURSE! Hey, c'mon folks, if you want to drain an aquifer, the best way to do it is do shoot water out over acres of grass! Empty aquifers mean more customers...

And remember folks; when you shop at East Coast Lumber, or their rental shop, you put money into the pockets of the people trying to drain our most precious resource; our clean water!

Anonymous said...

Suggestion petition the town to buy HAWC. Then it could be a town service and not a private service.

Anonymous said...

Anon October 25, 2008 10:50 PM writes:

And the fact that you don't see a problem in THIS TOWN with putting your name down to replay a town meeting means that you haven't been paying attention to what can happen in this town if you become a critic.

I respectfully disagree with you on both aspects of your statement.

However, I do think that when something as standard as the request form for public access TV is questioned as a "witch hunt" tool, it weakens the nature of this board and makes some of us look like a local cranks and conspiracy theorists. Just my two cents...

Anonymous said...

I certainly agree wholeheartedly that we need to use caution when making charges here; crying "wolf" only hurts the credibility of this blog.

But I'm sorry that you believe that it is a "conspiracy theory" to imply that Atkinson citizens can be harassed for putting their name down when critiquing town policies. Interestingthat you haven't come to that conclusion if you are an informed participant here. Perhaps you can answer 2 questions for me;

1. Do you deny that activist citizens In this town have been targeted for harassment?

2. Can you explain why the video policy was changed, considering that it happened after bloggers began posting clips of Atkinson gov't officials online, which helped energize the push for change and reform in town?

Finally, I respectfully point out to the readers of this blog that the best evidence about the atmosphere of this town might be the fact that you chose to post your critique...
anonymously.

Webmaster- said...

There will be a Public Hearing regarding HAWC's Water Withdrawal Request on October 30, 2008 at 7PM at the Kimbal Library. In addition to local officials, representatives from the state will also be in attendance.

Discussions will include HAWC's plans for expansion using the proposed new pipeline linking Atkinson and Hampstead.

Also to be discussed, HAWC's inability to account for a significant amount of the water they already pump.

Finally, new documentation has been made available regarding HAWC's violation of Atkinson Zoning laws. You can view these at
www.just-goaway.com

Anonymous said...

Anon October 26, 2008 10:39 AM writes:

1. Do you deny that activist citizens In this town have been targeted for harassment?

No I do not. But can you please show me evidence of any activist citizens who have been "targeted" due solely to posts on a town blog?

2. Can you explain why the video policy was changed, considering that it happened after bloggers began posting clips of Atkinson gov't officials online, which helped energize the push for change and reform in town?

Can you offer proof that the policy has, in fact, changed? Better yet, can anyone say what the "original" policy is?

Anonymous said...

Q: "But can you please show me evidence of any activist citizens who have been "targeted" due solely to posts on a town blog?"

I was talking about having to put your name down on a form to request a meeting to be replayed on the town television channel. Let's try to keep up here, eh?

Q: "Can you offer proof that the policy has, in fact, changed? Better yet, can anyone say what the "original" policy is?"

Do you even live in this town?

Can I offer proof? Yes Sherlock, here's the proof; all the town meetings used to be repeated mulitiple times for the citizens to watch. Then they stopped doing that. Were you able to follow that? Good for you.

Anonymous said...

Oh, and since you like questions, here's one:

If you're so sure you can safely post here. would you mind using your real name the next time you ask a question, or explaining why you don't? Thanks.

Anonymous said...

OK people, please listen. I can perfectly understand why people are unwilling to sign their name to anything. We can thank the chief for this. We're also going up against the Lewis family. They think they own us after all.

So, please let me lay out a few things. 1) The chief does not want the pipeline. He is not in the Lewis fold on this one. 2) It is extremely important that the people of Atkinson know what type of person Harold Morse is. He supposedly lost it before the Zoning Board. He will be at a town meeting Thursday night. Imagine the impact if the public can see his true self before that meeting. 3) If no one is willing to request a re-broadcast of his blow-up, maybe Leon can ask Ed Naile to make the request. I don't have cable so I could do nothing if it were broadcast.

So, please, stop auguring who has guts or not. The chief will not interfere. And what is Lewis Inc. going to do? One way or another, it would be really, really nice to see Harold in the process of losing it before Thursday's meeting. Leon, what do you think? Would Ed come down and put in a request?

This has to get out before Thursday or it will not matter.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Anon October 26, 2008 10:30 PM.

To answer your questions. Yes, I live in town. And with that in mind, I do know who and why those in town were targeted. And furthermore, I side with the activists. As for the second question, I am sorry, but your viewing habits of public access do not qualify as policy. So I will ask again...does anyone on this board know what the broadcast and rebroadcast policy/schedule is for town meetings?

As for your demand for me to not post anonymously, no thanks. Perhaps the reason I choose to post anonymously has less to do with the town official (elected or emplyed) and more to do with people like yourself demanding to know who I am.

Anonymous said...

You want PROOF of people being harrassed for putting their names on something, think about this;

In 2000, Steve Lewis put in a petition warrant article for a full time chief. Phil got pissed because he cant qualify for that professional position. he parked his clown car in front of Mr. Lewis' office on main st. with the lights on for over an hour while he screamed at Mr. Lewis in his own office! And if you don't believe that this happened, ask the county registrar of deeds, Cathy Stacy, she was sitting right there!

Oh and most of the people who signed the petition supposedly received calls at home harrassing them about it.

And you wonder why we post anonymously?

Anonymous said...

Understood. I think you should keep in mind that, ultimately, we are both on the same side on this issue. H

However, do you not think there is a subtle difference between a petition, warrant article or lawsuit and a public access TV? In addition, most of the harassment issues have come from issues with our chief of police and not Mr. Morse.

Anonymous said...

For of his faults, I have it on good authority the chief is against the pipeline.

Our problem here is Mr. Morse and the family he represents. Ask anyone who has lived in this town for a long time. It is no secret Peter Lewis did what was best for Peter Lewis. And for all the gobs of money he made from this town, what did, and now the rest of the Lewis family, give back to the town. I find the list pretty much blank.

Mr. Lewis gone now. But, that has not stopped Harold, and his wife Christine Lewis Morse (who happens to own HAWC) from continuing in the Lewis tradition. Only now, people are saying ENOUGH.

It would be really nice to see Harold lose it, but it is clear that is not going to happen before Thursday's Public Meeting. So, forget about the video. Rather, show up at the meeting and show your support for the BOS who is trying to intercede for us and so far the state is not accepting it.

You mad at HAWC? Show it. Show up Thursday.

Anonymous said...

Whatever happened to the public meeting on separating the Pd and elderly affairs? or did the selectmen wimp out on that?

Anonymous said...

The person who continues to demand the "policy" of replaying the town meetings. Are you thick?

I think the video of Morse in the meeting would really get more people to show up. It was a blatant display of the arrogance of a petulant child that truly believes they own a town and it's government. He actually said something like, "I know what you're trying to do Frank, you want to screw me out of everything I have!"

If Ed or Leon is willing to ask for the replay it would be great.

Or maybe the individual that keeps insisting that there's no danger in requesting the replay will go down and request it? I bet they won't...

Webmaster- said...

Think all of the water HAWC pumps goes to their customers. Think again. Go to www.just-goaway.com and take a look, using HAWC's own figures, what their production and loss rate was in 2006.

Anonymous said...

Anon October 27, 2008 4:52 PM writes:

The person who continues to demand the "policy" of replaying the town meetings. Are you thick?

Why? Because I ask for clarification on a policy that no one seems to know about? Wouldn't it be useful to all of us if we know our public access channel's schedule and rebroadcast policy?

What's "thick" to me is constantly reading posts asking to see the video of the meeting, yet no one taking the initiative to see how to do it. And when someone offers up a suggestion as to how to get the video replayed, we get this nonsense. So before I get the next post asking for my identity, or challenging me to go down to town hall to fill out the form, sit down and ask yourselves WHY it is so important for you to see this? Does it really add anything of value to the HAWC issue or do you just want to be a voyeur and watch Harold Morse blow his top so you can get a cheap thrill.

I suspect it is the latter and so if you are so eager to see it, do your own work and request the replay.

OK, flame away...

Anonymous said...

Oct. 23@8:16 , Oct. 25@12:30 and 4;25 - I have been off the site for awhile and read your comments tonight so I decided to explain my reasons for bringing up Unital earlier. I do not dispute the water situation and I was just trying to bring out the Unital failure to the consumers of its product . It isn't any different than HAWC when it comes to abuses of the town and its consumers. Both are costly when you have to pay for these abuses by both companies. What I was trying to get at is they ,Unital, as well as we have to tighten our belts to economize in these times of continual rising costs . Sorry if you took it the wrong way. I couldn't help but to think that you may be an employee or a stock holder in regard to your response to my comment.

Anonymous said...

Let's see; you ask for clarifications when all that's needed to know is that they used to replay the meetings, and now they don't. Yet you want to complicate things...

Then you insist that there's no problem with putting your name down to watch a replay, but you cower when asked to do it.

Finally, you declare that there is no value to allowing prople to see for themselves the arrogance of a man willing to exploit the towns resources to line his own already full pockets.

One last question Biff; exactly which subsidiary of Lewis Homes do you work for?

Anonymous said...

> WHY it is so important for you to see this? Does it really add anything of value to the HAWC issue or do you just want to be a voyeur and watch Harold Morse blow his top so you can get a cheap thrill.

Simple, it helps demonstrate his credibility. Harold's behavior, from his unwillingness to answer questions, to the wishy washy ones he does answer, to his blow up at the zoning board. This all matters.

This man, and the family he represents, have made plans that will dramatically affect this town if allowed to proceed. We're dealing here with something that is far more significant than a rate increase. We should know who we're dealing with. Why does he want to do this? What is the need and the justification?

Come to the meeting Thursday. Ask hard questions. And don't stop until you get a straight answer.

Anonymous said...

Then you insist that there's no problem with putting your name down to watch a replay, but you cower when asked to do it.

Since when did I cower?

1. I do not, or am not, associated with Lewis Builders, HAWC, or any other related company.

2. The best you can do is make assumptions and jump to conclusions -- hastily, knee-jerk, and incorrect.

How about sitting back for a moment, taking a deep breath, and thinking about what I've posted:

A. A way for you to see the video you so desperately want us all to see.

B. A request for the cable TV replay policy. Which, again, would be useful for someone who runs the Atkinson Factor to have.

I believe that your reasons for posting the video are flawed as, whether or not Mr. Morse's credibility is called to question, he will most likely have a TEAM of lawyers working for him...just like Mr. Lewis did. And THAT, my friend, is the real problem. But hey, if you want to get your jollies from viewing the video, don't let me stop you.

And again, if you want to let this board become a place where we can all talk about the "conspiracy-theory" cable TV blocking information and being used as a tool for "big brother" be my guest.

Anonymous said...

Will you folks get off the video already. It's too late. Case closed. Leave it be.

Yes, Morse has a team of lawyers. Believe me when I say, that will not help. The PUC is not going to be impressed with a bunch of lawyers when the basic fundamentals of justifying what HAWC and the Lewis family wants does not exist.

Forget the video. Stop auguring who has the fortitude to request it's replay. It is coming up on Tuesday. The meeting is Thursday. Times up. What you can do is come to the meeting and stand up with the rest of us who are going to. Show Mr. Morse and the Lewis family that the answer is NO. Not this time. You cannot have your way this time. This time you've gone too far. Fix what you have and be happy with that.

Geeez, I cannot believe what I'm hearing here. Time for the video is gone. Would have been nice, but too late. But, please, lets move on.

Suggestion - If anyone believe there is a conspiracy regarding the cable TV broadcasts, start a new topic. This, along with the Unitil rate increase, detracts from the problem at hand. Lewis wants all the water, and they want to sell it back to you, for a profit. Might that not be a priority here?

Anonymous said...

To the person making it seem silly and unnecessary that anyone would want to see the Harold Morse/ZBA tape:

Are you serious in not knowing why it's important for the activist citizens here to witness the hubris of someone with enough money to continually influence local politics, the personality to bully them into doing what they want, who is currently trying to pump hundreds of thousands of gallons of water out of the ground? You truly can't figure out why this is important?

Anonymous said...

As I said, too late for the video. However, we know a lot more now about Mr. Morse than last spring when this all started.

He doesn't like to comment. He does not return phone calls. When he does talk, his comments and answers are obscure.

Well, Mr. Morse, or someone representing him, will be talking to us Thursday night. Ask questions, a lot of questions. And if the answer is not clear, keep pressing until it is.

It is said you cannot hide the truth forever. Well, at this point I will settle for nothing less from Mr. Morse, his lawyers, or anyone else behind, for lack of a better word, STUPID project.

Anonymous said...

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHY MORSE AND THE STATE WILL NOT BE AT THE MEETING TONIGHT? My guess is there will be no meeting tonight.

Anonymous said...

Webmaster speaking - You got ahead of me. Yes the meeting was canceled. Harold Morse backed out. To the best of my knowledge, it has not been rescheduled.

Harold has already canceled one appearance before the BOS. He then ask them to meet in private, which the BOS refused - It is against the law. Tonight was supposed to be another opportunity for Harold to address the BOS, and as we've just seen, backed out at the last moment.

Harold and those interveners who have been recognized by the state will be in a public hearing Tuesday in Concord to be cross examined on written testimony that all have provided. That documentation will be posted on www.just-goaway.com as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Webmaster- said...

New information is becoming available regarding HAWC's petition before the PUC to borrow the funds for the pipeline they want. It is a little sparse now; many of the links to the documents are broken. But, much more is coming. You will find them at www.just-goaway.com .

Anonymous said...

Once upon a time there was a shy, but most powerful king named Peter. He saw vast spans of empty land and said, "Let there be homes and Condo's". He built them, sold them, and asked for only one thing in return, your water rights. Hence, a second kingdom named HAWC was born. And things were good. Where they had water rights, they used them. Where there were promises to leave the land untouched, HAWC ignored them. No one said anything. They did not dare oppose the king.

Well, the king is gone. What we have now is the king's son-in-law, Sir Harold, who has proclaimed, "I want it all". What he did not expect is that the subjects of the land would say "NO, NOT THIS TIME". But Sir Harold did not take the subjects seriously. So, he goes to great powers and says, "Loan me your money and I'll build a great pipeline that will expand my empire." Again, he does not hear his subjects. It is THEIR water he wants. It is THEIR money he wants. And when the subjects ask why, Sir Harold is out of town, or out of reach, his cell phone battery is dead, the dog ate his notes. He avoids, at all costs, to answer his subjects questions.

The subjects are becoming mad. Sir Harold was not popular to begin with. Now, he has earned his subjects disdain. Yet he persists.

Is it a question of honor, or a question of greed. Come on Sir Harold. Face your subjects, and give them some straight answers for a change. You have so much now. Why do you want more?

Anonymous said...

Could we take the last minute cancellation of the meeting as a sign that HAWC may be backing away from this project?

Anonymous said...

I don't think so. They have too much money involved to back away now. In fact, I hear that formal testing of the Settlers Ridge well site is about to begin and a hearing with the PUC regarding the pipeline is still scheduled for next Tuesday.

No, I believe this is more about Harold not wanting to face an angry public. He doesn't like to answer questions, and a lot of people have a lot they want to ask. And these cancellations are sure not helping his case.

To the BOS - Despite Harold's cancellation, the meeting should have proceeded anyways. The cancellation happened far too late to get word out to everyone and people did show up. Bad, bad move.

Anonymous said...

Webmaster says:

Tuesday's Hearing on HAWC's petition (DW 08-088 (the pipeline loan)) before the PUC is open to the public. PUC Headquarters (21 South Fruit Street, Suite 10 Concord), Hearing Room A Rm 103, 10am.

If you have the time and can make the trip, a good Atkinson turnout would be a good thing.