CORE: We Want All of Edgewood

Not satisfied with winning the giant prevarication election (which cost Edgewood and its citizens in the neighborhood of $50,000), the leaders of CORE and their fellow travelers want the whole kettle of fish. Apparently some amount of fish is still left from their scaly actions during the cratering of Edgewood.

Although the details of an Attorney General's opinion, the contents of a local noted attorney's letter, and the published law leaves no doubt as to what spoils they are entitled to, they continue to push for the resignation of two councilors and the mayor, when they would be better off calling for the same from the remaining two councilors—and for Edgewood to dump their investigation into acquiring Epcor.

I have wondered if that giant Canadian water company (Epcor) has paid the expenses racked up by CORE for its campaign. You know Epcor, the water mining and cash export company operating in Edgewood and other parts of New Mexico. Is it possible they provided the money for the fancy CORE campaign? CORE'S campaign included expensive and elaborate brochures, fancy and framed large signs and countless attorney hours. Has any money, aside from regular dues, accrued to our local chamber of commerce from Epcor? If so, how much?

Epcor is the same company claiming to have conducted a survey of 40 Edgewood citizens. That is a ridiculously small number to survey out of more than 3,000 citizens. Ostensibly, the results of the survey were to inform the rest of Edgewood's 3,000-plus citizens that we were insane to pay $10 additional per month for treated water which would actually taste and perform as water should. After living here going on 36 years and buying three water softeners, countless bags of salt, at least 2,000 drinkable bottles of water, and spending hundreds of dollars for soap and detergent, I can tell you I would be delighted to pay an extra $10 a month for actual water treated by Epcor instead of my treating it. Apparently, the survey was a straw man meant to heat up the discussion regarding the purchase of Epcor.

Another question for CORE and Epcor. What will happen when/if Edgewood starts on a path of real growth? Does Epcor have sufficient wet water to provide for the growth? If not, are they prepared to purchase additional water rights? Do they have plans to drill new wells if the present wells are depleted? If not, where will the needed water come from? What if the aquifer is pumped dry, never mind a well or two? Will Epcor have the means and desire to arrange for water to be piped from some lake or reservoir? Perhaps we can look to Clovis, which has 16 contaminated wells. Is Epcor drilling new wells? The answer is no. Clovis had to raise property taxes a substantial amount. Not to drill wells, but to construct a pipeline from Ute Lake, which is more than a few miles from Clovis. The cost for the pipeline, rumor has it, is $50 million or more.

Edgewood will be treated similarly when our water supply is threatened. Epcor is not our friend. They are a water mining company.

Chuck Ring, Former Edgewood Councilor