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Shady Cove retiree launches effort to defeat water system By MELISSA MARTIN SHADY COVE -- Wayne Barnes is handing out fliers around town this week encouraging residents to vote against the city's request to build the first municipal water system in Shady Cove's history. The 68-year-old retired major in the U.S. Marines said he believes the water system would be too costly for senior citizens on fixed incomes, especially those who live in Shady Cove's seven manufactured home or RV parks. Barnes is a member of Citizens Opposed to Bond Authorization. "Sixty-three percent of our population are elderly and on Social Security," Barnes said. "Their checks won't go up just because we will start paying a water bill and more property taxes." Shady Cove retirees with acreage would pay even more, Barnes said. The city would lay up to 40 feet of pipe for hooking up homes and businesses to the system, but any more than 40 would be picked up by the property owner at an estimated $2 a foot. He plans to sell his home on Rogue River Drive and move closer to his son in Redmond, where the cost of living is more affordable for his fixed income, he said. The city is asking voters for a $7.5 million general obligation bond to help pay for the $11.1 million proposed water system. The remaining $3.6 million would be funded from a lottery grant. The city would draw and treat water from the Rogue River, but residents could continue to use their well water. The city would pay back the bond half through $18.50 monthly user fees and half through property taxes. The property tax increase is estimated at $1.68 per $1,000 of a home's assessed value. A member of the group that supports the bond, Citizens for Water for Future Generations, said residents should be willing to pay for a new water system for the sake of their children and grandchildren. "We have a responsibility to get a water system for our growing town at the cheapest price -- and that's now," said Mike Malepsy, owner of Trails End Real Estate in Shady Cove. "We should not pass on the burden to our children of getting a water system at a higher price later." Water bond opponents point out that Malepsy's residence is outside the city limits. However, Malepsy said the property he owns in town would result in $125 more a month in property taxes if the bond issue passes. Many of the 925 wells in Shady Cove are going dry, especially on Sarma, Hudspeth, Rene, Cora and Bond streets and in The Cove subdivision, bond supporters said. "If people have a good well now and think it will last forever, they should look around town and see their neighbors' wells who are going dry and realize that they could be next," Malepsy said. Barnes said his 55-foot deep well pumps more than enough water to serve his family's needs. "I have my own fire-fighting system; I can pump 110 pounds of pressure out of the hose." Barnes agreed with bond supporters that Shady Cove needs a water system. But he believes the city should look for alternative sources of water and funding. "I'm Kayuse and Walla Walla Native American and I know that Indian foundations, as non-profit groups, are required to give away 10 percent of what they earn," Barnes said. "They might be willing to help build Shady Cove's first water system." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA