Show we may yet be convinced Public Public statements this week cLearly indicate a hostile hos tile the attitude on the part of City officials toward anyone who questions motives underlying somewhat emotional announcements on our current water shortage or asks no fuller a-fuller explanation of the situation The The- reaction to our questioning editorial of last week has been practically Uy as expected and comments int including luding a radio speech by Mayor K E E. EM McDougald Dougald M Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tues Tues- day have intimated that persons seeking a fuller Understanding understanding understanding un Un- of the issue were not only against further expansion of the city's water system but against progress progress pro pro- gress in gener general l in this community The clearest answer to our questions came this week from Davis C. C H Holder lder Grand Junction consulting engineer for the city in a letter published on this page Mr Holder pointed out the dangerous situation in inadequate inadequate in in inadequate adequate fire protection reserve brought about when n water in our million-gallon million storage tank reached critical levels This we grant is no item to be brushed aside ina in ina ina a wave of false economizing But even this statement nurtures other questions we have on the subject For instance it was stated in publicity released by the city prior to a a. 1958 election which provided our present storage facilities The one million gallon storage storage storage stor- stor age tank contemplated by the Ule project will give Moab a 1 total of gallons of storage water The old concrete concrete concrete con con- crete tank will provide dead storage for another gallons If our memory serves correctly the dead storage created in the old concrete tank was to be placed aside as a fire reserve and this in itself would come close to providing the protection Mr l Holder describes What has hns become of this tank Was it fo found nd during construction construe tion that plans to make it dead lead storage were not feasible r Have we been so that we thought we would would- t r nt need it jt Is it possible that this might be utilized as our fire fine reserve Questions such as these should be answered ans ans- l. l Mayor l McDougald's radio talk Tuesday was very informative as far as facts and figures were concerned concern and gave a fairly clear idea of what we were faced with during this critical dry hot dry hot period But there were points not mentioned here that should have been The mayor for instance stated that funds for planning the water construction program now under contemplation contemplation con con- were wore forthcoming from the Federal government government government govern govern- ment like manna from heaven beaven It was not mentioned however that these engine engineering ring funds fund would have to be paid back in the event that actual construction was approved approved approved ap ap- ap- ap proved by the voters Our questioning attitude attitude- is in no way intended as opposition to any future plans for city water expansion A recent rejection of a county bond issue however however however how how- ever has indicated that the taxpayers would go bra for further bonded indebtedness ONLY if a definite dire need nero existed and ONLY if the facts regarding the proposed proposed pro pro- posed expenditures were fully explained along with arguments arguments ar- ar ar r supporting proposed bond programs This is our attitude entirely There are many things we would like to have and could probably afford through credit buying such as a bond issue Real needs however however however how how- ever arc are different We are confident that city planners are entirely sincere in their efforts to provide municipal services needed by a progressive growing community If it can be shown and we are sure there there- are many constructive arguments in favor that a further indebtedness is an absolute necessity we will pledge our sincere efforts to public cooperation This does not however deny us the right to question question ques ques- tion tron when we feel questions are in order I |