Letter to the Editor:There was quite a revelation at the April 28 meeting of city council. It’s hard to believe, as stated by Mayor Taylor, that no senior government grants will be forthcoming in the near future to help with costs of repairing or replacing our “broken” infrastructure. I’m certain that all who heard this pronouncement were utterly shocked! After all, the city has obediently complied with the government’s request to have a water management strategy in place (water meters) but still no money? Perhaps 2016 will be a brighter day and then “pennies from heaven” will pour down into our city’s coffers.The first myth has been dispelled. Water meters do not equal grants!The stark reality is that there are no “pennies from heaven.” Whatever needs to be done will have to be done on the backs of the local taxpayers, go figure. It is imperative that council sets its priorities straight and addresses “necessities” rather than “wants”; $1.3 million would have been a good start in bringing our water supply to an adequate level for both domestic use and fire protection. Yet council is under another illusion, the belief that significant savings will be realized through the installation of meters. When will this bubble burst? How many other illusions will be revealed before all the dust settles from this issue?As an aside, here is a “modest proposal” for Mr. Ronaghan, and all proponents of a user pay system for water usage. Let’s be fair about all things. Let’s meter everything that we can, including sewage and garbage. Let’s toll all city roads. Let’s raise fees so that every community facility operates on a “break even” basis. Let’s throw out the whole concept of the common good that the word community implies. Let’s individually pay for everything we personally use even the air we breathe. With today’s technology, I’m sure that too can be metered. However, let us set aside the ethical question of my “modest proposal” as well as the morality of turning water a life necessity into a commodity. Strictly from an economic perspective, Mr. Ronaghan, my taxes pay for many amenities that I don’t use. The only tangible benefit that I receive from a larger tax bill than many is that extra bit of water I use to be ecologically prudent and keep my yard green. I already pay more than my fair share with no complaint. I just don’t think it’s fair that I now will be paying an additional fee for water over and above the extra taxes I already pay for having a large lot.Frank Triveri, Grand Forks

Grand Forks Gazette