If this blog could be effectively done anonymously, as most of my personal philanthropic efforts are, I would be glad to do it. Others make ridiculous anonymous statements, attempt to find skeletons where there are none, grade grammar usage and make personal attacks oblivious to the fact their statements and questions contribute nothing to the community; they simply demonstrate the "blind" support the the status quo requires.
I know many of the "contributors" memorialized on the Topinabee Beach Park fountain are the type of people who give their time and support to many community efforts and their contributions should not be squandered simply because Mullett Township was a beneficiary of their largesse.
T
The park designers envisioned an artesian well not realizing artesian wells rely on natural aquifers that may no longer exist in the park area. Instead, a water feature imitating an artesian well was designed and funded partly by a private donation and Mullett Taxpayers. This, like much of the park design, has proven to be impractical except as a testament to government waste. It's not artesian, relying on the well system installed for the restrooms. It's not really practical as a drinking fountain because it offers no easy way to drink. Cup your hands, or tilt your head, go get a bottle to fill, or lift your child up so they can try to get a drink. Wheel chair bound? Ask a stranger for help.
Privately funded at $3,500 cost, PLUS another $1,200 spent by taxpayers to move the partially completed "water feature" before it ever flowed because the first location was in the proposed "streetscape" parking lot, the dollars continue to flow down the drain. Because the Health Department saw the "water feature"as a public source of potable water, it has already required well treatment and retesting several times at taxpayer expense to pass health standards for drinking water. The constant flow will burn through well pumps regularly.
The "water feature", shown being used to maintain dental hygiene, flows at a nominal rate of 2 gallons per minute. That 2 gallons runs 24/7, ostensibly from the first frost free day until the last frost free day in the fall.
Two gallons a minute x 60 minutes x 24 hours x 135 days EQUALS 388,800 gallons of water down the drain. Ask your electric provider how much your bill will go up if you leave the garden hose running two gallons of water per minute all summer. Three hundred eighty eight thousand and eight hundred gallons of water flushed with taxpayer dollars down the drain. Double-check my math, teach.
The Mullett Township Board should practice good stewardship of our natural resources and this link is offered for their education.
I encourage the Board to stop wasting $$$ and our precious aquifer simply to satisfy the ego of a few. Shut off the fake "artesian well". Install a seasonal two level ADA compliant drinking fountain. The Board previously approved this practical solution including a pet bowl until a "contributor" offered $3,500 to start the ongoing waste of resources and funds. Recognize the error and correct it before more tax dollars are wasted.
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