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KENNEBUNK, Maine — The board of trustees of the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Wells Water District voted unanimously May 27 to permanently remove from consideration the proposed Nestle water extraction contract they tabled last summer.
“As far as we’re concerned, it’s a done deal,” said Bob Emmons, the trustee representing Kennebunk.
Fellow trustee Jim Burrows of Kennebunkport said the board took the vote to quell rumors that they were once again considering the contract.
He said every time a story about water ran in the paper, people began to worry the contract was being discussed again.
“It was getting to be irritating,” he said. “It was bothering most of us trustees.”
In a press release, Save Our Water organizer Jamilla El-Shafei commended the board for its decision, but cautioned that the fight to protect local water continues.
“We intend to remain vigilant and will oppose any attempts by Nestle to tap into the community’s aquifer,” she said. “It’s not over ‘til it’s over.”
While the contract proposed last summer is dead, it doesn’t mean the district will never consider water extraction again.
“It could change if more people are for it,” Burrows said.
KKWWD Superintendent Norm Labbe said that could happen sometime in the future.
“This (vote) does not preclude our ever discussing water extraction,” he said. “I’m not in favor of limiting future boards.”
Labbe said he thought the furor over water extraction talks and the most recent vote was a case of “politics trumping science and common sense.”
“I’m personally frustrated over the misinformation out there,” he said. “People are reacting to misinformation and fear. They’re not understanding the science.”
Labbe said he hopes that will change in the future.
“We welcome more dialogue,” he said.
Burrows said that in voting the trustees were just acting on behalf of their constituents.
Now, he said, they aren’t interested in selling their water.
But someday, if people were to look at the science, that feeling could change.
“Scientists say we have an abundant supply, that it would take another ice age to affect it,” he said. “For the East Coast, its gold is water.”
Way to go Mainah’s. We have learned our lessons in Maine with Nestle. We hope that Salida listens carefully to our message.
I hope the Chaffee County Commissioner take the time to read this and lead by example and “JUST SAY NO!!!!!!!!!!!!” to the 600 pound gorilla trying to sit in the Arkansas River.