How you use water is relevant to the water provider. Information about your income/assets is not. Answer the relevant questions, and refuse to answer the irrelevant ones.

Why confirm you even received that nonsense?

Personally I would not respond to that email in any way. Not to help them get the requested data some other means, to complain about the requested invasion of privacy, nothing.

No I wouldn't answer it, but since it's a small town and it sounds as if the water tower is needed, give them a call and point them to the census information link.,

Feds are not going to take answers to emails as data points, they're going to look at the census anyway so they might as well start there..

quote:

Originally posted by SSgt USMC/Vet:
The new proposed water storage tank is what's call a capital improvements project. These projects are paid for in a couple different ways through purchase of bonds and or grants or by profers by developers and of course water usage fees. The town, city and or county would have to provide data in support for a grant. So yes info on residents would be needed but only general info.

I have found in over 30 years working for a county (water and sewer field operations) and the last 5 or more in water and sewer management is that the citizens that bitch the most about the water pressure, storage and or fire protection are the least supportive.

I'm with SSgt. I'd answer the questions honestly in order to qualify for federal and state loans and grants. I would however write "decline to state" for name and address.

In a small town, they probably already have the pertinent details already.

Write in 0,0,0,0,0,0
Print X for your name
Put a address in 12345 Lame Request Ln
Write X in cursive
Send it back it will give them some idea of your thoughts

nope

quote:

Originally posted by SSgt USMC/Vet:
I have found in over 30 years working for a county (water and sewer field operations) and the last 5 or more in water and sewer management is that the citizens that bitch the most about the water pressure, storage and or fire protection are the least supportive.

Not bitching about the services at all. Love this town.

I did consult with the town engineer about my pressure 3 years ago and he offered to monitor it for me. I advised I already did that. He said the law only required them to furnish 20 lbs of pressure at the meter, and implied that if it went under 20 they would have to address the issue. I told him no, 22 or 23 was the lowest I had seen. He also advised they were perfectly fine with me installing my own booster pump on my dime.

My water bill is already ~double what it was in Shelbyville, 10 miles away. (same usage) I understand that as well due to it being a rural setting.

Just the luck of the draw, my house is the last house on the main line before a booster pump and water tower 1/2 mile down the road that serves a subdivision a couple miles out of town.

I have lived in this county for 64 years, 60 of those in the county seat. The city or county never before in those 64 years requested anything like this. And I see news of multiple Grant request every year.

Me thinks they are doing something wrong.

If they do get ANY replies I expect it will be such a small percentage as to be totally useless.

A neighbor just told me that a few years ago they did a similar request and also wanted to know how many pets and head of livestock you had...

I think I would answer the questions but not sign it with name and address.

Bell Buckle. I love flying to the Shelbyville airport and borrowing the car and going into Bell Buckle and eating at the Bell Buckle cafe. Nice little flight from Decatur and the food is always good.

Thread drift but nice to see someone actually lives there.

Perhaps it would be wise to attend the next meeting of the local water/utilities board and simply ask them to explain the survey and to describe how intrusive it appears.

No expert here, however, having lived in small towns and rural areas for the majority of my life, I've found most local boards to be run by folks who really want to do right by their community and appreciate receiving thoughtful feedback.

Silent

quote:

Originally posted by SSgt USMC/Vet:
The new proposed water storage tank is what's call a capital improvements project. These projects are paid for in a couple different ways through purchase of bonds and or grants or by profers by developers and of course water usage fees. The town, city and or county would have to provide data in support for a grant. So yes info on residents would be needed but only general info.

I have found in over 30 years working for a county (water and sewer field operations) and the last 5 or more in water and sewer management is that the citizens that bitch the most about the water pressure, storage and or fire protection are the least supportive.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^same field before retirement. and agree 100% with his statement. I have sent out letters but never asked what people earn. Only ask if they are interested in having the service, tell them up front what the connection cost will be. If the majority agree, we put it before the board and decide if it is cost affective over the long run and not an undue cost to the rate payers.

There is one add on that I didn't touch on. Water tanks are expensive. I was project manager on 3 water towers that held between 300,000 and a million gallons. Sad part is that if you need a new tank, you need a new tank. Who pays? There are State and Federal loans for capitol improvements with very loan interest rates that get spread out over a long term. It is still no business of how much each family earns. Water consumption is already in the billing records that (where I worked) went back over 25 years.

quote:

Originally posted by pbramlett:

I love flying to the Shelbyville airport and borrowing the car and going into Bell Buckle and eating at the Bell Buckle cafe.

More thread drift: fly to Owensboro KY for a meal at the Moonlight BBQ. You'll thank me later, after you come out of the food coma.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
No I wouldn't answer it, but since it's a small town and it sounds as if the water tower is needed, give them a call and point them to the census information link.,

Feds are not going to take answers to emails as data points, they're going to look at the census anyway so they might as well start there..

This, in spades.

As for responding, I believe I'd let the youngest child in my family complete the questionnaire with crayon. Maybe a picture of a house with unhappy people in it.

For 13 years I had to fill out a report to the State and EPA.
The Tiger census data tells you how many people on average live per household. With a small town, will it grow or stay the same? Only the township planners will really know this.
The information I had to provide every year was:
Average use per day
Average use per day hot weather
Average use per day off season (winter)
There is a big swing from summer to winter. No pools to fill, grass to water.
It is true what they call the 11:00pm flush and the 5:00am flush, and the Sunday night usage of water when laundry and showers during the school year are happening. Charts, and now computer storage can bring up this data easily.

quote:

Originally posted by DennisM:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
No I wouldn't answer it, but since it's a small town and it sounds as if the water tower is needed, give them a call and point them to the census information link.,

Feds are not going to take answers to emails as data points, they're going to look at the census anyway so they might as well start there..

This, in spades.

As for responding, I believe I'd let the youngest child in my family complete the questionnaire with crayon. Maybe a picture of a house with unhappy people in it.

have them write Tree Fiddy in for each dollar amount,

Send it back with something like..

1. 7
2. $2,794.00
3. N/A
4. N/A
5. $13.00

Total $2,807.00

Couldn’t they obtain the info they need from the last census they had for the area?

Wait for their next questionnaire asking about how many guns you own and their serial numbers.

Sorry, none of your business.

A couple of years ago our village sent some survey asking even more innocuous questions. I know I'm an old grouch, but I refused to answer for the same reason: None of your business.