Norm, when it's time to pack up and leave my patch in mid Florida 140 feet above sea level, I'll know where to go.
In the mean time, whether or not there is a problem that needs to be solved, the risk is the government saying, "Trust us, we are here to help." In my local paper is an article about how local government is helping us by maintaining full employment for lawyers. The county commission perceived the need for a tax increase but knowing the voters would never approve it, dreamed up a scheme of exacting a "privilege fee" on utilities that use county rights of way. Right now there are 11 entities that are suing the county, 9 of which are government agencies, including the city municipal utility. The case is approaching the state supreme court and the paper says it is possible for the court to bounce the case back to be started all over again. Other counties are watching this situation closely. But the paper says the cost of the fight to the taxpayers is at least $500,000 which doesn't include intangibles such as the distractions to government workers and a series of other costs.
Charles
P. S. Speaking of Forida water, it hasn't rained here since the night of the deadly tornados that killed 40 people in central Florida. But there had been so much rain up to that point that the aquifer had filled to over flowing. Since the aquifer is the only place for water to go in this part of the state, that is down sink holes, the prairies to the south and west of town flooded as deep as 12 feet. Over the weeks after the rain stopped, the water rose and displaced some people on the outskirts of town in a new housing development while city planners were saying OOOPS. A farm family up stream from a prairie agreed to impound water on their farm at nominal cost to taxpayers for a few weeks.
I live on the highlands, the water drains away from our part of town. |
