What's good for Dennis isn't good enough for Hyannis

Billy Bob Mills has a passion for local politics - everywhere except Hyannis.

Regarding the recent water commissioner election in Dennis, Cape Cod Times editoral pooh-ba Billy Bob Mills wrote:

Local politics at its best

People will get out and vote when they believe their pocketbook is on the line. The threat of higher water fees and taxes for anticipated sewering projects in parts of Dennis brought 2,500 people to the polls Wednesday as two candidates vied for a water commissioner seat. The last water district election, uncontested, drew 61.

The victor, Peter McDowell, made an issue of all the Crowell family names in the water department, but everybody knew that was a red herring. McDowell, former town moderator and finance committee member, is a tight-fisted, anti-tax government watchdog who doesn't believe in many feel-good environmental causes. He says he hasn't seen evidence of pollution that would require sewering.

One thing's for sure district meetings should be more interesting. The two other commissioners, Paul Prue and Charles F. Crowell, both signed their names to a political ad endorsing the losing candidate, Brad Crowell, and praising his "positive, can-do attitude."

Too bad, we don't have a "tight-fisted, anti-tax government watchdog" on our unelected Hyannis Water Board.

In recent weeks, Hyannis Water Board spending has included $1,050,000 for pipe replacement on South Street; $200,000 to upgrade Hyannis water supply wells; and an additonal $416,000 for a rate study, repairs to one of the system’s water towers and a water quality study.

Your rates are going up another 8.7% in July.

Over the next ten years, your water rates will more than double.

Comments

[Malcontent 02648]

There's a guy bottling New York City tap water and selling it for $1.50 for a 16.9 0z bottle. He has good packaging and marketing, and the stuff is outselling most other waters in the city! He does purify it, but it is essentially tap water.

If Hyannis Water is so great, why not ask some of the fat cats if they want to start up a "HYTAP Water" product for the tourists?

Will chlorine sell on Main Street???

[Gary Lopez]

Since the cost of producing potable water for 35,000 people in the COMM Water District is less than what it costs in the Hyannis district that services 7,400 folks, the question that arises; "Could a person make a profit selling Hyannis water for $1.50 for a 16.9 ounce bottle?"

[Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner]

Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink!