City's self-important attitude needs to go

What's up at City Hall? The issue herein is a small one but the principal is large. Foolishness, lack of common sense, self-importance and overbearing bureaucracy in government are fearsome qualities. We seem to have all four in Sandpoint.

Last fall, after being lied to by a Department of Environmental Quality employee, City Council reversed itself on a decision about inspection requirements in a recently passed ordinance concerning cross connection control in water systems. Immediately after the passage, the assistant city engineer, Matt Mulder, sent out a letter ordering inspections of backflow assemblies within approximately 45 days. After strong complaints were registered, the city rescinded the order.

Just recently, Mr. Mulder sent another letter to an unknown number of recipients demanding that inspections be conducted by Aug. 6. I raised an objection with the mayor and received responses stating that she "believed" the word "annual" in the wording of the ordinance stating annual inspections are required, means she can set any date within a year that she wants. As quoted in an article in a recent Daily Bee, the president of the council, who voted on the ordinance, believes that the simple word "annual" means Jan.1 to Dec. 31.

The mayor suggested that I should get a councilperson to submit the issue as an agenda item. I suggest, since even the council president disagrees with her interpretation, she should be the one to submit a change to the ordinance specifying a date. She has not answered my request for the city attorney's opinion.

But the mayor doesn't seem to be able to admit to being even a little bit wrong, especially when a staff member needs to be backed up. She seems more intent on protecting staff and advisory members than citizens and she doesn't seem to accept any beliefs but her own.

As to her reason for wanting an inspection date of Aug. 6, she has accepted the incorrect advice of Mr. Mulder who believes that backflow inspections of sprinkler systems can't be conducted after blowout, which they can, depending on the installation. Of course, the focus on sprinklers ignores the more abundant backflow systems in restaurants, in businesses and for other types of systems, both residential and commercial.

The mayor also falsely believes that residential backflow is a serious hazard to the city water supply, despite the inability of anyone to show any report of incidents from residential systems in or around Sandpoint. However, she ignores the fact that the city water supply extends to certain county areas and surrounding cities such as Dover and Ponderay. Since the inspection requirement does not affect those users on the city system, there is no safety in this useless program foisted on those of us who have foolishly let the city know that we have a device that falls under the ordinance.

While this issue only affects residences or businesses that the city knows have systems with backflow assemblies, it reflects the self-important mind-set of our city government.

KEN SANGER

Sandpoint