Walton water debate: Beware city's campaign to educate homeowners

Yuba City has started sending mailers to educate Walton citizens of the facts. I hope the following facts and issues are included:

In 2000, city mailers were distributed to educate us in the benefits of annexation — much similar to today's mailers. Promises were made in those annexation mailers that did not fully materialized. One promise was "No water or sewer hook-up is required upon annexation or thereafter." Now, the city wants to charge us connection fees and retroactively "reconnect" us to the city's surface water system costing us millions of dollars. The city promised us city police protection; parts of the Walton area still are without city police protection.

In 2000, the city annexed the Walton area without necessary infrastructure to support it. In fact, the Walton area didn't need the city — the city needed the Walton area as a steppingstone for future city growth in the city's Sphere of Influence (SOI)!

In 2001, Yuba City purchased Hillcrest Water Company using eminent domain. The city didn't ask us, nor did Walton residents ask them, to make that purchase. It was a city decision made for future build-out and growth in the city's SOI.

Prior to the city's purchase, HWC was a viable and profitable private ground water company servicing Walton residents — now the system has deteriorated and is no longer useful — a typical result of government taking over private enterprise. At the time of the HWC purchase another water company wanted to purchase HWC. If the city allowed private enterprise to work we wouldn't be in this confrontational situation.

When purchased, the city knew that Hillcrest Water Company wells would not meet the new 2006 EPA standards of 10 parts per billion. Instead of searching for a more permanent arsenic and nitrate removal solution, they chose to take a "patch as needed" approach until, according to them, the system is no longer financially sustainable. However, the last city report showed that our area meets EPA arsenic standards.

Apparently the HWC purchase was a mistake or the system was not properly managed. Either way, this is a city problem.

A majority of Walton home owners — over 1,700 — have signed protest petitions opposing the city's solution(s). Many Walton homeowners feel that the city purchased HWC and it belongs to the city — not to Walton-area residents. Upon annexation to the city it became the city's responsibility to provide the Walton residents with quality water at a price equal to what other city residents pay.

Up until now this was a Region 2/3 problem. Now, the city has decided to add Region 1 into the voting matrix. It appears that they want to dilute Region two-thirds majority of voters already opposing the city. I hope that Region 1 residents will join Region 2/3 in defeating the proposed assessment.

It appears that the city's entire water expansion plan is development driven and dependent on future impact fees from new homes. Today, these fees are practically non-existent. The proposed Walton assessment bond is essential for future city development.

The city does not want to blend ground water and surface water. With California in a water crisis this would seem the correct thing to do. This would ensure an adequate future water supply and mitigate the rising cost of surface water — the best long-term solution for the entire city.

Our incumbent County District 4 Supervisor and the candidate for this office both agree that Walton citizens are not being treated fairly.

Beware of a Trojan horse called "assessment" that will be used to get into your bank account. A bond used to pay for an assessment is a financial liability for your children's and grandchildren's future.

Be cautious of a government that wants to "educate" you. Get all the facts before you vote.

Find more Walton water facts and issues by going to the "murkywater.org" Web site.

Don Kessel is a resident of Yuba City's Walton area.