So just who makes up the “Bainbridge Resource Group” and what is its agenda?

While I certainly agree that water is a precious resource, I hardly think that a huge aquifer that runs under numerous communities could ever be “under the control” of any entity, be they a city or a PUD.

In no way does Kitsap Public Utility District have the power to “control this vital resource,” as Bob Fortner has stated, any more than the South Bainbridge Water Co. can control the source of water it delivers. to the people it serves.

So just what is behind the apparent fear mongering recently put forth by Mr. Fortner? Since I believe that his farm has its own well, any issues of overcharging that may arise do not affect him.

Whether the water-delivery pipes, paid for over decades by the Winslow ratepayers, should or should not be “divested” by vote of the affected 2,000 ratepaying households seems to be none of Mr. Fortner’s  concern (or anyone else living outside of Winslow).

What does he or his group expect to control? Does he use the public swimming pool, where none of the waters are paid for by the actual non-Winslow-resident users of the pool, and does he fear a fee increase should the Winslow ratepayers are finally treated fairly?

I joined Mr. Fortner in voting for an all-island government. But that vote did not imply permission to utilize the excessive water-rate charges that I was forced to pay for island-wide actions of any sort. And any committee with a majority of non-ratepaying members should not be able to determine what should happen with the Winslow Water System.

The dollars of those 2,000 households paid for that water delivery system. Mr. Fortner, and others living elsewhere, did not, thus they are divesting nothing.

Dee DuMont,  Winslow