Government for the people.......................

First let me make a brief comment; The intent of having a government was serve it's people, but it is apparent that the the people are here to serve the government.

I have a home in rural central Oregon , Deschutes county, five (5) miles from a very small community that recently voted to incorporate.
Three county commissioners decided , without a public vote to add a $40,000 lein to each property parcel that has a septic system in south Deschutes county. Probably 7,500 households.

The commissioners reasons are that sometime during last summer they sampled the Little Deschutes river and it had traces of nitraites. Not high, not poisonus, not a health hazard , not even meeting the governments health standards, but a trace. One time , with one sample. The county experts say this might or could be a problem in fifty (50) years. That is as definative as the experts could be.
Now there was a series of public meetings, but this was just for show , because they had already made up their minds on the subject from the start.
The commissioners wanted to at first require all septic systems to be updated ( mine was installed 10 years ago and I have my water tested every year as part of a package deal when I bought the water pump, ect).I have no traces of anything in my water.
Literally everyone who showed up for the third meeting brought water test reports that showed no traces of any problem ( different labs too).
But the commissioners said the traces were in the river ( at summer the river is so low that cattle graze, people wash there cars, ect.)
Nobody uses river water for houehold use.

The cost for the best septic system in the world was up to $25,000 and everyone had to have this installed no matter what any water report said or how new your septic system was.
People here blew their top.
The commissioners said ok no new septic system , we will have everyone on a public sewer system and water system. The old system will have to be removed and you can no use any ground water.
We are a loose community of retired folks and very young families most on fixed incomes or low incomes. Most drive 30 miles to Bend for any kind of work.
We are in the grass roots of starting a class action suit against the county. We have many folks that are for doing something like Klamath Falls vs EPA
Anyone here in the sound of my typing think that a government can simply decide ( 3 person commission, that all drive Lexus) to put a $40,000 lien on private property?
Thanks for listening

thats a bunch of bs do a class action suit , and also start a recall of all the commissiners hope it works out for ya . good luck , mike

just goes to show what my father said back in 76 a whole bunch of people are educated beyond there intelligence by all means start a recall petition

I believe this country is run by educated idiots.

RECALL THE BAST#RDS!!!!!

Larry in Michigan

You have to get a class action lawsuit going, get a good attorney that is able to handle a case like yours. I dont know what I would do in that case, maybe get real violent, threaten the 3 clowns that came up with this. You need to take action, dont wait.
My parents and all homeowners had to fight some *sshole 20 years ago that wanted to put a 15 story high rise. All the homeowners got an attorney, had a hearing and won--the highrise didnt happen cause the zoning laws were not to be changed. (they were fortunate)

In your case I am sure that all 3 of those gov. are getting a kickback/bribe or are enviromental wackos.

Threats of violence will have you in court and jail in very short order. You want to sue, fine. Political activity, great. Violence or threats are childish.

Clearly, their intent is to push everyone onto a public sewer system; forcing current residents to pay for the system means they don't have to push through a bond referendum, which is likely to fail.

So the question becomes "who will benefit from a public sewer system, and why?" If you can answer that question, you can probably get the rats recalled. There are two beneficiaries of a public sewer system: The contractors who will do the work, and developers, real estate agents, etc. who will benefit from expanded development. My guess (based on their expensive tastes in cars) is that your commisioners are tied in with the latter.

Don't waste time and money on a class action suit. These crooks will get the best lawyers money can buy, and pay for them with your tax dollars. Recall the b***s!

Nitrates happen naturally in our enviroment.

They can come from any dead decaying plant or animal.

I believe you would have lots of nitrates from the matter on the floors of the forests out there.

Gary

This sounds typical on the "left" coast.

Sounds like you need to vote the socialist out.

Government for the money. Someone has a agenda. Lawn fertlizer adds more nitrates than septic systems and no one's forcing bans on it because of profit. Your an eazy target.

... of the lawyers, by the lawyers, and for the lawyers.
A. Lincoln
a lawyer

See the link for Oregon's recall procedure. You have that right.

Connecticut has to have a Constitutional Convention every 20 years (last was 1989 which just convened and adjourned). There is some rumbling from both left and right this time of making a push for recall and initiative, two things we don't have.
http://www.oregonvotes.org/publications/recall.pdf

Had a situation here several years ago- Dept. of Ecology tested river adjacent to a 200 cow beef operation, found unacceptable nitrate level. Cows didn't have access to the river, but of course, with all our rain, they said it was leaching in, etc. Farmer hired a company to do his own tests. They went upstream from the farm, to get a "background" level, and lo and behold, the nitrate level upstream from the farm (and upstream from any form of civilization- just out in the woods) was higher than at the farm! That was the end of that. . .

This country was built on boxes. Soap, ballot, and cartridge.

Seriously, a recall might be more effective and more immediate than a class action lawsuit. The public can do wonders at the ballot box, if they're organized.

A class action lawsuit could be tied up in the courts for years, with escalating legal fees, and what impact would it have on the value and marketability of the various properties in the meantime? Try selling a property that has a $40,000 lien on the septic system.

Also, tar and feathers might be appropriate.

Have some tests done by whatever county services there are, and state that the pollution is coming from those.

Dave,

Recall is a good option. I would also place a lien on the property of the commissioners.

Bob
Central Arizona

Actually it's "soap, ballot, jury, ammo", use them in order. Although when this kind of crap goes on, only the last last one seems relevant. I agree with another poster to start a recall election, obviously these people forgot who they work for. A class-action if the recall doesn't work or to claim damages and make sure it takes them to the cleaners so no one else will forget the role of government and its officials in a community.

Oh, I forgot, investigate and find out where their money is coming from and where their business leanings are. Make that info public or send to the state prosecutor and this will probably go away since its most likely criminal. Some conflicts of interest are.

It's now of the money , by the money, for the money