It has been mentioned before how the “massive four-member movement” (thank you Willie) of folks who call themselves “Citizens for Fair Water” have offered nothing but Rescinding Petitions, and False Information in their war against the “Three Mile Irrigators” and their forming a Subdistrict.
TO SAY AGAIN, “The Citizens for Fair Water have not offered one single proposal to satisfy the financial needs for the Three Mile Irrigators in continuing to provide maintenance and eventual replacement of the Three Mile Gravity System.”
TO SAY ONCE MORE, the “Citizens for Fair Water” have only proposed, and/or made statements concerning:
a. Rescinding Petitions (Posted March 22, 2016 by Jim Rokosch, Bob Cress, Shane Brooks, Ron Wandler)
Response to “a”:
– This is the only plan that the “Citizens for Fair Water have presented!
b. False Information: to Three Mile Irrigators that a Subdistrict would allow BRID to take possession of their water wells. (Reported by Three Mile Resident)
Response to “b”:
– This statement is absurd and ridiculous with Intent to mislead, and create fear of a Subdistrict!
c. False Information: to the Three Mile Irrigators that a Subdistrict would devalue their property. (Posted March 22, 2016 by Jim Rokosch, Bob Cress, Shane Brooks, and Ron Wandler)
Response to “c”:
This statement begs this response:
• How would it devalue our property?
• A declarative statement requires an explanation, and verification; otherwise its simple gibberish.
• It is generally known that a subdistrict actually enhances value.
You may ask how?
• The formation of a subdistrict assures would be lenders that a pathway to satisfy any incurred debt is in place.
d. Incorrect Information: to Three Mile Irrigators that “BRID will have to OK every sale and transfer of water right.” This will limit who you could sell to, if you wanted to sell. (Posted May 27, 2015 by Bob Cress)
Response to “d”:
– This is already established policy. You can’t have people running around selling and buying water rights without the managers (Irrigator Elected Board) of the system knowing about it, recording and verifying the legality of each sale, recording irrigated acres and the new owner. Property owners can sell to whomever they desire as long as state, federal laws are adhered to.
THIS HAS NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH THE FORMING OF A SUBDISTRICT.
e. Incorrect Statement: “Under Montana Law”, the Three Mile group would have been required to have an elected executive board, the authority to incur debt, the authority to tax the membership and the group would be required to have all the easement in the area to supply water to the users.” (Three Mile System isn’t private; Posted May 7, 2015 by Shane Brooks)
Response to “e”:
• The “Three Mile Group” were duly elected representatives of the Bitter Root Irrigation District.
• The Bitter Root Irrigation District had/has in their possession all of the required easements in the necessary areas.
• The group’s objectives were consistent with those of the Bitter Root RC&D area and the Bitterroot Conservation District.
• Both organizations approved the application and became sponsors for the project.
• Had there been issues as those you have mentioned, you can bet that the two organizations who sponsored the project would have found them.
THUS THEY FULFILLED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY.
f. Very Assuming Statement: “BRID owns the Three Mile gravity system and has from the start.” (Three Mile System isn’t private; posted May 7, 2015 by Shane Brooks)
Response to “f”:
• If your statement is true, why are you, Bob Cress, Ron Wandler, and Jim Rokosch – alias “Citizens for Fair Water” suing the Three Mile Irrigators?
g. Incorrect Information: The Three Mile group was “approached by BRID” with the Proposal to put in an underground pipeline to improve the water distribution to the users, but the law states that only the irrigators using/getting the use of the pipe can be taxed, not the whole district. (Three Mile System isn’t private; posted May 7, 2015 by Shane Brooks)
Response to “g”:
In 1980/81 Three Mile Group was approached by the:
• “Bitter Root Resource Conservation District”
• “Bitter Root Irrigation District”
Your statement here indicates a definite distinction as to who owns the outcome of this project.
• The Group’s objectives were consistent with those of the Bitter Root RC&D area and the Bitterroot Conservation District on the use and development of land and water resources.
• Both organizations became sponsors for the project.
• The original plan was titled to as the “THREE MILE FARM IRRIGATION RC&D MEASURE PLAN”
• EVIDENTLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING HERE IS THE “BITTER ROOT RC&D” AND THE “BITTERROOT CONSERVATION DISTRICT” DIDN’T COMPLETE THEIR “DUE DILIGENCE” BEFORE THEY DECIDED TO BECOME SPONSORS FOR THE PROJECT.
h. Sounding and Resounding Hyperbole: I urge every member of the Three Mile Gravity System who has signed the petition for a sub-district to contact BRID and rescind your vote. (Three Mile System isn’t private; Posted May 7, 2015 by Shane Brooks)
Response to “h”:
• This Hyperbole is used repeatedly by the “Citizens for Fair Water”.
• We are all still waiting for their explanation as to the real problem with an IRRIGATION SUBDISTRICT.
i. (TADA – a brand new one)
False Information:
From a member of Citizens for Fair Water: “If a subdistrict is formed, it will cost each of the Three Mile Irrigators $1,200.00 per Irrigated Acre.” (Comment made by member of “Citizens for Fair Water” (CFW))
Response to i:
• “There are approximately 3,700 irrigated acres serviced by the Three Mile Gravity System.
• “At $1,200.00 per I/A and 3,700 I/A = $4,440,000.00
• This would bankrupt every Ranch, Farm, and Irrigator on the Three Mile System within months if not immediately.
• This is nothing more and nothing less than an indication of how desperate the “Citizens for Fair Water” have become in their quest to stop the subdistrict.
• The “Citizens for Fair Water” should be embarrassed running around making statements like this.
j. FINALLY — It is increasingly frustrating trying to deal with group(s)that seem to have no conscious about what they say in an effort to achieve their personal goal. Yes, I am talking about the “Citizens for Fair Water”. And yes, I am talking about the four officers of that organization. To address a topic that they have obviously been somewhat successful at with their untruthful comments. That topic CFW has purposely, endlessly misrepresented is “Tax Assessment”.
• CFW continues their effort to convince the three irrigators that it is BRID who actively conducts the tax assessment.
• CFW is Wrong, Wrong, and Wrong on any and every account concerning tax assessment!
• I don’t care how many years you have been here. If you have been here for the past thirty years, and still don’t have it right, well???
• For the past thirty (30) years the Three Mile Irrigators have paid for and maintained an incredible irrigation system.
• They accomplished this through subdistrict protocol.
• Thirty years ago the Three Mile Irrigators formed a Special Improvement Irrigation District under the Bitterroot Irrigation District to attain the funds necessary to install a Gravity Irrigation System.
• The Irrigator Special Improvement District (alias “Subdistrict”) would satisfy the Loan by means of “Tax Assessment”.
• Here are the steps:
1. Montana Law required, then and still does, that BRID sponsor the “subdistrict”.
2. The elected Three Mile Board of Commissioners establish the Assessment Dollar Amount (per Irrigated Acre) and sends the information to the Ravalli County Treasurer, Hamilton, MT.
3. The Ravalli County Treasurer includes these charges in the “Property Tax Statement” of each irrigator.
a. Bitterroot Irrigation Water Charge Per Irrigated Acre
b. Bitterroot Irrigation General Account (1,400 Irrigators)
4. THE RAVALLI COUNTY TREASURER COLLECTS ALL TAXES–(NO DISCUSSION)!
5. UPON RECEIVING THE ASSESSED FUNDS, THE RAVALLI COUNTY TREASURER DEPOSITS THE FUNDS INTO THE BRID ACCOUNT.
6. BRID HAS NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO COLLECT TAXES! (NO DISCUSSION)!
CFW, have you no shame?
Cary Hays
Stevensville