CullmanTimes.com - Cullman, Alabama

Letters to the Editor

Discussion

May 4, 2010

No to Smith Lake

The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — This past Tuesday, three local men appeared before the Cullman County Commission meeting with a petition and a proposal in excess of one hundred pages to form a county utilities cooperative board. When the meeting was over, they were elected as that board by the two associate commissioners. We are to believe that this came about without any prior meetings or planning. I mean, I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night.

These men will have the ability to control the Cullman County Water System and borrow millions of dollars on its behalf, all in hopes of pumping water from Smith Lake and building a water treatment plant at Smith Lake Park, or they can sell it. What experience do they have in the field of public utilities?

Alabama Power built Smith Lake 50 years ago to generate hydroelectric power and not drinking water for local communities. If it comes down to electricity or drinking water, it will be electricity. We will also be behind the cities of Birmingham and Arley for drinking water. Alabama Power was urged to maintain the water level at 502’, which is only 8’ below full pool of 510’. What if we have to reduce our water consumption 10 percent, 20 percent or more to comply with this or face penalties. You can reduce your water consumption in the home to a degree, but you can’t go tell 50,000 to 150,000 chickens that you are producing, to quit drinking so much water.

Another thing that hasn’t been mentioned is that the treated water from Good Hope’s waste water treatment plant goes into Bavar Creek. In a short distance, Bavar Creek empties into Ryans Creek. In less than a half mile, Ryans Creek becomes Smith Lake. The Town of Good Hope has a great record at their plant, but it is still treated waste water.  

Smith Lake has very few restrictions on its use by the public. You can put any type or condition of boat into Smith Lake. You can jump in the water and swim all day. Development can occur down near the full pool line and there is no buffer zone. It is a beautiful lake, but I don’t want to drink the water.  

Duplication of services will cause everyone in this county to pay more for their water. The more customers you have, the lower your per unit cost will be.

If we don’t get this settled soon, the only ones that will benefit will be attorneys and well drilling companies.

‰ David Bice is a resident of Trimble

Text Only
Letters to the Editor
  • Thoughtful people in Cullman

    Cullman was one of twenty stops I made while on book tour for “A Silence of Mockingbirds: The Memoir of a Murder.” I came to town at the request of Loretta Gillespie. We had met previously at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery. When Loretta learned I would be touring with my newest release, she asked if I would please come to her part of the country.
    One of the greatest blessings about touring with a book is the people I meet along the way. I knew something about the people of Cullman because Loretta had forwarded on to me stories of the aftermath of last year's devastating tornado. I had the opportunity to visit with Jimmy Simms and to hear first-hand his story of survival.

    May 23, 2012

  • Sister cities

    Dear Mayor Richard Nerding & Frankweiler Friends of Cullman:
    It has been a pleasure to have members of our sister city — Frankweiler, Germany — in Cullman the past few days! I thank you for your letter and for the lovely poster commemorating the 25lh anniversary of the partnership of our two cities.

    May 23, 2012

  • Give Christian school an opportunity

    I just watched a story on CBS/42 that the Cullman Christian School will not be able to build their new school on property they bought on Convent Road. One would think for the growth of the City of Cullman to happen and to get families to move here, the city would want to offer quality education that a private school could offer. Some of the residents on that road complain there might be too much congestion.

    May 23, 2012

  • Mother’s Day thoughts

    It is possible for the influence of a mother to be felt well beyond her time on earth.  Mothers leave a legacy to their children and future generations.  Mothers teach their children character and values that transcend time.  A mother’s true legacy cannot be found in a bank account or in physical possessions but in the hearts of her children.
    Today is the day to remember the women who have influenced out lives.  There are the ones we know, but there are also the women that we do not know, who have left us a powerful legacy.

    May 13, 2012

  • Living proof that community's moving forward

    April 27, 2012 — the anniversary of that faithful day when the tornado ripped through the middle of town and destroyed almost everything in sight. The city had a big event at the park to commemorate the progress that has been made since the storm. I couldn’t attend because of a bad leg and will have to make do with a trip to my favorite barbecue joint.

    April 30, 2012

  • People can vote as they see fit

    April 23, 2012

  • Chairman defends ad

    April 23, 2012

  • LETTER: Duck river dam opponent takes issue with Graves campaign ad

    Commission Chairman James Graves: Your campaign ad in the Wednesday, April 18, 2012 issue of a local shopper’s publication crossed the line.

    April 19, 2012

  • It’s about education

    Education, education, education is what Alabama promotes all the time. Education is good. So why don’t we educate the average voter instead of deceiving them. Economics for example is one thing that every Alabama produce farmer and livestock farmer knows well. Economics 101 teaches everyone.

    April 1, 2012

  • Obamacare should be dismantled

    The Obamacare health care law cannot and must not be upheld by using the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution. Insurance companies can not sell insurance across state lines. Therefore, healthcare insurance does not qualify as interstate commerce. If this law is allowed to stand as being constitutional the government can declare any commodity as commerce and force Americans to buy that commodity. This is the way a totalitarian government works. 

    April 1, 2012