http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-mcloud-water-issue-story,0,6953126.story?track=rss

Oklahoma Residents to be Taxed for Using Well Water

Several residents in McLoud are upset after the city announced a $17 water bill for residents who use a well. According to City Manager Larry Dillon, the small fee will help pay for emergency services such as police officers and fire fighters. Because of an old city ordinance, rural residents with in 100-yards of a water line didn’t have to pay for those services; but because of a struggling economy, every dollar counts.

If local residents don’t want to pay the fee they’ll have to connect to the water line.

“I know nobody likes to pay extra bills, but it’s a reality of life and you have to pay your way because there is no free ride anywhere,” said Dillon.

If local residents don’t pay the $17 monthly charge or hook up to the water line, city officials will fine them of $20 per day.

" ... According to City Manager Larry Dillon, the small fee will help pay for emergency services such as police officers and fire fighters. Because of an old city ordinance, rural residents with in 100-yards of a water line didn't have to pay for those services. ... "

This. Is. Phucked. Up. ... Is Dillon saying that if you have a PRIVATE well on PRIVATE property and you DON'T use CITY water llines, that you have to pay a FINE for that well? Is he effin' CRAZY ... ? This - 'old ordinance' or not - is wrong on so many levels it's not funny. This is extortion. And if they were drawing water from a PRIVATE well, there was no NEED for them to draw from city water lines. The townspeople really do need to file for an injunction here and then vote every one of their sorry assses out of office. Or, better, arm themselves, march down to city hall, and frogmarch 'em out of office and replace 'em on the spot. Damn!

I suppose it's understandable to raise taxes for emergency services but WTF?Tax the whole fricken town if thats the case.Why you would tax a person using well water and give everyone else a free pass is stupid.I know that people using the public water pay a tax but they are also paying for the system and the people to run and maintain it.It doesn't seem fair to pay a tax for a service that you have to provide and maintain.

I'm sure even in the smallest town there is a state job they can cut and save $30,000 or $40,000 a year by elimanating one person.

The sad part is, ypu're probably right about that job that could be cut - BUT: Government NEVER reduces ITSELF. It always threatens and reduces the things we DEPEND ON (fire, police, EMT, etc) rather than cutting the bloated bureaucracy that makes government so effin' large and ineffective.

This is a clear violation of PRIVATE PROPERTY rights - and, if we wanna get right down to it, since no other people are being affected by this 'well water' decision, it's a case of DISCRIMINATION. Isn't that supposed to be 'illegal' in our oh-so-politically-correct society ... ? And there's one other piece of speculation ... could it be that the town's run completely by Democrats, and the people with the wells are Republican ... ? I'm just sayin' ...