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Dear Editor:
I was pleased to finally see a professional come out and honestly address the water quality and quantity issues that will be produced by the installation of a gravel pit along White River at Potters Bridge. Everything I have read on the subject says so, but to have the input of an expert working in this field is very credible.
Again, I ask our City Council elected officials individually and collectively: Why is this petition still in consideration?
I also call on Mr. Beaver to be the good community steward he has historically been and in the public interest of his neighbors please withdraw his request. Select a more appropriate site, one that does not affect the roads (which will have to be repaired by taxpayer dollars) the wildlife and environmental beauty of one of the most used trails in Noblesville, the quality of air to five of our schools and some 6,500 of our students, and now, we understand, the drinking water quantity and quality to some 41,000 Noblesville households!
It was one thing to dismiss all the arguments about environment loss and noise and dust and such, but drinking water is critical to the health of a community. Presuming (and that’s an optimistic presumption) this pit will not throw us into routine “boil water” alerts, it will raise the price of our water (cite article cleaning up bacterial contaminated water is 30 to 40 times more expensive than preventing it in the first place). Then, not only will the taxpayers be called on to repair damaged roads, now they will be called on to clean up the community water supply and to foot the cost of finding new sources of quality drinking water.
Then let’s ask the realty market how this will affect interest in new home construction in our previously growing community. Not only will the 600-plus families living within walking distance of the park be directly affected by falling home prices but now, the entire community’s sizeable home investment will be affected. It is no longer a question of this neighborhood or that neighborhood being affected but all of the current residents and any potential future residents looking to buy their homes in Noblesville.
Our elected officials were put in office because we trusted them to protect our interests. I am asking them to stand up and do that now, please.
I am asking Mr. Beaver to acknowledge the welfare of his fellow residents and do what is the right thing – choose another less critical location.
The “needs of the one” do not overshadow the “needs of the many” – in this case, 41,000 of us.
Craig C. Wind
Noblesville