Michael,

I have been looking at the transcripts from the council meeting from a political stance and I would like to share some of my comments.

First as I mentioned in class, the lack of acknowledgement from both sides of the other's point of you is quite striking. The homeowner's are not hearing any empathy from council...I mean real empathy. Council is going through the motions of saying they are interested in hearing what everyone has to say, but each emotionally charged personal account of experience is rebutted with "scientific proof." This negates the "feelings" which the homeowner's are expressing. I believe this round robin further divides each side from any understanding of the others' considerations and further creates a larger wedge.

Von Bishop attempted to give an open floor to speakers to express their concerns. However, on several occasions when homeowners were expressing the inconsistencies in the data/reseach, Von Bishop pointed out it was not the intention in his words, "to get into picking things apart." It would seem from an outsider, that if one side is using science as their source of data to support the position of no extended pipeline, and the residents are wanting the pipeline, then residents will certainly be looking for the loopholes in the arguement. Which is prescisely what was done.

I have to stop here for a moment to report my bias...that being, that Council needs to "hear" the concerns of their experience before a working solution could be sought. I don't think this group of homeowner's is feeling empowered at all. So finding a solution does not seem quickly forthcoming.

There are many political moves throughout this piece. For example...Pg. 4 "would further sampling data, make the issue more clear?" This was brought up by the Chief Environmental Office. Although he goes on to conclude that perhaps with data "at this end and ... data at that end and do we need more data that might fall in the midde?" There is a perception that there is still a question of whether gaining more data is needed before a solution can be found. However, in fairness to Mr. Bradbury, he goes on to say that the long-term solution is the extension of the water line. It is interesting to me that no one really took this solution up for discussion at this time.

There is one blatant contradiction over the quality issue of the water...and on pg. 5 it is stated, "there's no concerns related to health." But on page 27 Karen Naught, a resident at 629 Senanus provides a good summary of the potential health problems if the existing water was used for drinking.

Mr. Magonnegal, Chairman of the Water Advisory Task Force gives a very politically rhetorical account of "their" ideas. He sketches nicely the different positions of the CHR, the residents, and Trader Vic's (???) Then he talks about being open to discussing alternatives, then points out how fortunate people are to live not only in this community but in this community on the whole planet. He then goes on to expand the discussion from the problem...to being on the "leading edge" of rural, urban planning. I think Mr. Magonnegal missed the mark on several issues. But most of all, I wonder if the Task Force was indeed set up to be on the "leading edge of rural urban planning." He did not seems to really say anything at all in his address.

On Page 18 Mr. Bradbury is asked whether he thinks the CHR is an independent body and if its results are unbiased. His reply is guarded. And he does not answer the question at all. This is a classic political maneuver.

I could go on with examples, but I will stop here. My final thought (for the moment) on this transcript...Clearly, the people who then got up to speak were angry. I will come back to my first comment...and add that you our discussion on Tuesday...We need to see a situation from the inside out. In other words we need to understand the lifeworld of those residents on Seanus Road in order work with them to wind another alternative...to even be able to see the pros and cons of a pipeline, in persuit of a solution.

Donna Tait