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Rural South Dakota Votes for Trump, Gets Job-Killing Water Moratorium

In bad news for one-night-standers…

It’s about time someone take a stand against hookups.

Oh, wait—this story is actually about people being able to make long-term commitments to north central South Dakota. Following up on grim news from last summerWEB Water says it can barely afford to upgrade its maxed-out, 30-year-old rural water infrastructure, never mind adding capacity for new housing or commercial developments. Shannon Marvel reports WEB will take requests for single-family rural homes and livestock operations until next year, when any new hookups “would depend on available funding and capacity.”

Hearing this news at yesterday’s Brown County Commission meeting, Commissioner Duane Sutton said we’re screwed:

Economic development in rural communities will likely be stunted without new water hookups, Commissioner Duane Sutton said.

“Counties rely on new growth, and if we start stifling rural development, all they have is agriculture development. It’s a huge hit to the counties. Especially the rural, smaller counties,” he said [Shannon Marvel, “WEB Water Places Moratorium on New Bulk Service,” Aberdeen American News, 2017.03.29].

And who’s killing those rural jobs? Donald Trump, the guy for whom good Republican Sutton distributed campaign signs from his restaurant parking lot last year, the guy whose rural backers thought a New York billionaire gave a hoot about their jobsThe Trump budget, as Sutton should recall, eliminates funding for rural water and wastewater projects.

So if Trump kills funding for rural water, and if rural water is necessary for rural jobs, then Trump kills rural jobs, right, Commissioner Sutton? Maybe when Trump’s coal jobs prove illusory, he can send those disappointed Appalachian miners to dig water wells on the prairie.

Sutton said WEB users need to “send a letter to our representative,” but WEB GM Wendy Hammrich suggests our Congressional delegation isn’t helping:

By visiting with local government boards like the Brown County Commission, Hammrich is hoping to attract local, state and federal attention and support for rural water systems.

“We’ve tried to reach out and continue to reach out to our leaders or their field staff. It’s usually us making that connection. It kind of feels like we’re out here on our own,” Hammrich said [Marvel, 2017.03.29].

Add rural water to the list of things Sutton and his fellow Brown County Republicans can discuss with Kristi Noem at the Lincoln Day Dinner April 20.

6 Comments

  1. mike from iowa 2017-03-29 09:38

    Can’t resist-once more with gusto-

    She clutched him to her bosom, “You’re so beautiful,” she cried
    “But if I hadn’t brought you in by now you might have died”
    She stroked his pretty skin again and kissed and held him tight
    Instead of saying thanks, the snake gave her a vicious bite
    “Take me in, tender woman
    Take me in, for heaven’s sake
    Take me in, tender woman,” sighed the snake
    “I saved you,” cried the woman
    “And you’ve bitten me, but why?
    You know your bite is poisonous and now I’m going to die”
    “Oh shut up, silly woman,” said the reptile with a grin
    “You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in
    “Take me in, tender woman

    They never learn.

  2. buckobear 2017-03-29 13:43

    Wow Mike — have recently been thinking of that Oscar Brown composition
    Quite appropriate — well, lizards are reptiles too.

  3. mike from iowa 2017-03-29 14:48

    Anybody that paid attention during the campaign knew exactly what Drumpf was and now they got the snake of their dreams.

    Elect a clown- expect a circus (Bumper Sticker)

  4. cha 2017-03-31 08:10

    I do NOT know what they expect from Noem ….she it’s pro-trump and if ppl were smart they would get her out of office. Just what does SD think they are protecting with all that hate they support with 45. Good luck rural ppl of SD, bc I’m one of them…… :/

  5. Sandy from SD 2017-03-31 18:59

    AND on top of all this, if the oil in the pipe under the Oahe breaks (and it will) we won’t be able to clean it enough to drink it – same for our underground water and Cheyenne River with KXL – not only will there be no new hook-ups, there will be no potable water! Our poor Grandkids!

Comments are closed.