To the Editor,
Every resident in Stevensville depends on municipal water. To not have resolved the past mistakes of city administrations over water does not exonerate the current one. Actually now, the onus is on the current administration to figure out a solution. It should have been priority ONE!
All of you must realize that just as residents of a city, that city’s water grab (which effectively it is) will run against our “first in time, first in right” State water law basis.
Simply put, in the event of a serious summer drought the situation in the future: IMHO, even an exempt water permit holder (a relatively minor water user) established prior to these unauthorized wells could legitimately place such a call. Trust me, there is NOTHING more junior than an unauthorized or illegal well. Stevi would lose.
Regards,
Pat Connell, Hamilton
Former Montana State Senator and
Chairman, Water Policy Committee