By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com Polk County Commissioners received a clear message Monday that residents, at least those who publically spoke, strongly object to the proposed 75-year water agreement with the Inman-Campobello Water District (ICWD). Commissioners held a workshop specifically to hear from the public on Monday, June 29, where 29 residents spoke, all against the contract. Residents urged the county to slow down its process, speaking of seven years left on the current contract with ICWD as well as suggesting Polk County hire an expert, one specifically who could put a dollar figure of the worth of Lake Adger. A crowd attended the meeting, although the meeting room was not full. Some residents spoke harshly, at times targeting commissioner chairman Tom Pack for not looking at the speakers, insinuating he was not listening to the public. Pack responded that he doesn’t engage in eye contact with speakers because he is taking notes on what speakers are saying. Citizen comments began with Margaret Parker, of Columbus, showing a National Geographic video about water and it’s critical need around the world. Irene McCourt, Lake Adger property owner, said she drove in from Atlanta because this issue is so important to her. She said they will not develop their lake property if this deal goes through.

Sky Conard, of Lake Adger, began by saying “We the people of Polk County own the public waterways and rights to them, not the majority of the board of commissioners, so it is an injustice that you unilaterally negotiate our rights and controls away in a contract with ICWD of South Carolina for the next 75 years.” Conard said it is neglectful of the commissioners’ duties and not putting the public’s interests, health and welfare first to abandon the county’s plans to supply itself with clean drinking water and to replace that plan with one that makes the county dependent and under the control of outside water sources from the Broad River Water Authority and ICWD. Conard said county taxpayers have contributed some $7.6 million for water infrastructure yet less than one percent is being served from the water system, saying the “unserved public, (the Have-Nots), are subsidizing the served, (the Haves), like the Tryon International Equestrian Center. “That our future Polk County generation is left with no water supply reserves because ICWD in South Carolina has their rights to it for their lifetimes,” Conard said. The 75-year duration of the contract was a main concern to speakers, with a couple speaking of today being like the 1940s, questioning what if those leaders made decisions about our lives today. Judy Heinrich, of Green Creek, asked commissioners to think about the many things that have changed over the past 75 years. She said in 1946, just 69 years ago, there were only two phones and two roads in Polk County, with many areas not even having septic tanks. David Pschirer, of Green Creek, said the N.C. Local Government Commission (LGC) rejecting a former draft is evidence to him the county should bring in some experts. “75 years is entirely too long,” said Pschirer. He also said the amount to be withdrawn from the lake should be lowered and increased as demand grows. Pschirer asked what 8 million gallons per day (mgd) is worth, saying normal business sense calls for an appraisal. He said he is not against ICWD delivering Polk County’s water, he just doesn’t want to see the county give away its water on the cheap. Franklin Smith, of Green Creek said he moved to the county in 2002 and Polk was either in a drought or just coming out of a drought. Smith said commissioners at the time swore they would save the county’s water for Polk citizens. Even then, Smith said, the county was aware of poachers for their water. He also said no one in the room would live to see the 75-year contract to its maturity. Former Saluda water/sewer commissioner John Morgan told commissioners to look at what’s going on in California with droughts. He said this contract is probably the most important decision the county has had to make since he’s been here and they are talking about for 75 years. Morgan said the county should get professional counsel. “I don’t feel confident making a decision like you are now and I think we need to call in outside help,” Morgan said. Glenn Dulken, of Lake Adger, said he thinks the issue of repairing the lake’s dam has scared a lot of people so we are now rushing to find a solution. Dulken said he lives on the water and it’s looking like he made a huge mistake. “I can smell when somebody is trying to sell the family farm,” said Dulken. He urged commissioners to slow down and hold a public hearing. He said the current board’s tenures are not going to make it 75 years, “and I don’t think you want to be remembered as the people who sold Polk County down the river,” said Dulken. Former Polk County Commissioner Tommy Melton, of Columbus, said he remembers thinking when he was chair of the board the purchase of Lake Adger would be one of the biggest decisions the county would ever make. He said at the time, the county had residents and churches crying asking for water because their wells had gone dry. At the time, Melton said, Polk County was recognized as being one of the most drought stricken areas in the nation. Melton said commissioners had a meeting with Lake Adger residents and promised Polk was going to protect them and take care of the water for them. Melton also said with seven years left on the current ICWD contract, the county could work with the towns regarding sharing resources. Melton also suggested the county leave the decision to the citizens and let them vote on it. Pat Salomon, of Green Creek asked commissioners why the county doesn’t fix the dam itself instead of giving away its water rights. David Maxwell, of Columbus, said the county is giving its water away to South Carolina so ICWD can sell it back to us. He asked why the county is rushing through this deal. Maxwell said a 20-year contract is maybe too long, 50 years is too long and 75 years is ridiculous. “And you should know better,” Maxwell said. “You are grown men.” Lee Stockdale, of Tryon, asked where the love affair with South Carolina came from. He said the county is giving away this precious resource and what is ICWD going to do; fix a dam? Stockdale said the county couldn’t even build a DSS (department of social services) building without litigation. “I’m an attorney and I can’t understand it,” Stockdale said. “Who wrote this thing?” The proposed contract currently states that any dispute will be decided by the laws of South Carolina, said Stockdale. Dan McDyer, of Lake Adger, said the county needs to retain expert opinions. McDyer said Polk’s water is going to be extremely valuable, and “75 years. I have never heard of such a thing.” McDyer suggested commissioners give themselves some kind of escape clause in the contract. David Thompson, of Columbus, said in his opinion this is a terrible contract. He said all the triggers in the contract lay with ICWD, not the county. “I’ve never seen a contract where there’s no value set on what you are negotiating,” Thompson said. He suggested the county seek outside help. “This is a bad deal for the county and it’s not going to get any better,” Thompson said. “It’s a horrible contract.” Pack said by mid next week he wants to have staff compile all the comments so commissioners can review them prior to the county’s next meeting on July 20. The July 20 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and following the meeting commissioners will have another workshop to discuss the contract as well as the public’s input. Residents are encouraged to send any comments to the county by mid-next week either at the county manager’s office or by email. The Bulletin continues to cover the water contract. See articles next week regarding how commissioners responded to the public’s comments, Lake Adger dredging and an interview with ICWD’s general manager Jeff Walker.