After 35 years of public and community service, I have learned it isn't always smart to respond to misinformed attacks - political, personal or professional. Unfortunately, Doug Darrington of Sandy (Deseret News, Nov. 3) managed to do all of the above to me and Paulina Flint with great timing in the Deseret News two days before the Salt Lake County Commission election.
Personally, I just consider the source. But I must respond on behalf of the few thousand people who supported the creation of the White City Water Im-provement District and voted for their own board of directors.Mr. Darrington has never been actively involved; he lost in a failed attempt as a write-in candidate for the board of the water district and further, with his cohorts, has cost the district, the water users and Sandy city residents untold hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal expenses.
Let's cut to the chase. Mr. Darrington says Ms. Flint and I ignore the public process and that Commissioner Overson doesn't. Au contraire. We have always allowed all public comment, and unlike Overson, never have threatened to have the public removed from a public forum.
We have the rolls of everyone who has ever attended well-publicized and media-posted White City Water Improvement District meetings. Mr. Darrington, where were you? How can you be so offended? If you don't read, have a telephone or know where the district office is, we meet every month two blocks from your house at the Sandy Library.
Yes, Mr. Darrington, your water bill has increased to upgrade an aging water system for many needed improvements to infrastructure, well reclamation, wellhouse replacement (due to age and vandalism) and storage - improvements promised to the White City Water Improvement District and Sandy residents because they are not all currently on pristine White City water.
Now for the "T" word. Mr. Darrington blatantly fabricates a last-minute outcry that stopped the district from taxation. Every board candidate was and is adamantly opposed to taxes by the district. In fact, that commitment was made in May 1994. The district believes in cost-based rates, i.e., you pay for what you use. No taxes, Mr. Darrington, with this board.
As to my job and benefits and the rest of the board, I average 20 hours a week on district work. At $1,500 per year, that amounts to 70 cents an hour - other board members do more or as much as me.
I have never worked with a more dedicated, intelligent, knowledgeable board and resent an obviously political and personal attack so well-timed before the commission election. The district, bonding and board were created by an overwhelming majority of the water users. Mr. Darrington, et al., should listen to their neighbors - get real and right and honest.
Arthur L. Kimball
Vice chairman
White City Water Improvement District