08/03/2023
Letter/article to the editor.
Amid the mounting concerns over water billing discrepancies, broken meters, and sewage charges, the atmosphere in Fletcher, Oklahoma remains tense due to reports of police and city council overreach stemming from unwarranted neighbor complaints. The once-friendly town has been marred by incidents of excessive policing and harsh penalties imposed on residents for seemingly victimless offenses.
The recent ATV riding incident serves as a stark example of how over-policing has affected the lives of residents. It has been reported that lifelong residents of Fletcher, have been fined and faced threats of further legal action after they were reported by a neighbor for riding their ATVs on their own street without a city permit or even in their own yard. One instance was reported that police responded to a call from an unwarranted complaint involving a legally registered street bike. They were responding due to complaints to City Council about dirt bikes being ridden. Since when in America, do residents get cops coming to their homes because they might be doing something against a city ordinance where there is no victim, all because a neighbor does not like their neighbors.
Many residents view this as an intrusive encroachment on personal liberties, as they believe the activity is harmless and poses no threat to public safety. Fueled by neighbor complaints, law enforcement zealously responded to these incidents, causing a strain on community-police relations. Local residents have voiced their frustration, accusing the city council and police department of prioritizing minor infractions over more pressing issues that genuinely affect the town's well-being. It should be noted that most of the police force did not agree with having to run and write citations with these calls but were pushed to do so by the mayor and city council.
In the midst of the recent concerns over neighbors calling on neighbors without valid reasons, the community is now grappling with mounting issues related to water billing and utilities. Many residents have noticed discrepancies in their water bills, with charges significantly higher than their usual consumption patterns. In some cases, more than double the “normal” amount.
Complaints have flooded local authorities, expressing concern over the accuracy of the calculations and the financial strain these inflated bills impose on households. Adding to the predicament, numerous residents have discovered broken water meters, making it impossible for them to monitor their water usage accurately. This technical failure has led to an inability to dispute the exorbitant charges on their bills, further exacerbating the frustration among residents.
Moreover, the matter has been compounded by reports that some water meters have not been read at all, causing uncertainty about the validity
of the billed amounts. Some residents claim they have been paying for estimated usage, leading to doubts about the fairness and transparency of the billing process.
In a perplexing development, residents have been shocked to find sewage charges included in their water bills, despite not being connected to the city's sewage system. The perplexity arises as many of these households rely on septic tanks rather than city sewage services, raising questions about the accuracy of billing and the lack of oversight by local authorities.
In addition, there are also concerns of the over pricing of sewage usage. According to one facebook comment by a city official, the sewer is now calculated based off residents water usage. Most residents agree that is unfair and unjust due to water usage has little to due with the sewer system. An example given was using water to fill a swimming pool, the water does not go into the sewer system therefore they should not be charged for extra sewage use just because they used extra water.
During this trying time, when the town's residents sought guidance and resolution from their elected leaders, they were met with further disappointment. The absence of Mayor Dickie Herrin, reportedly on vacation again, left the community feeling unheard and ignored. Many expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of timely and transparent communication from City Hall, telling residents just to come to the council meeting on Aug 8th at 6pm to voice their concerns. Hopefully those that attended will be heard and not told they are not on the agenda, like others before them have been told.
While all of these deficitices added to the already burden of the growing economic concerns, some residents are having a difficult time covering the extra amount added to their water bill, that may or may not be correct. Then add the fairly new policy of having to pay the full amount without an addition month courtesy, along with the unreliable hours of operation at City Hall to voice those concerns, make arrangements, or to pay the bill is a recipe for broken relations, especially in such a small community where you attend church and your children attend school together.
In the face of all these challenges, plus cemetery fiascos, to grass clippings, new road destruction , and the dog catcher debacle, Fletcher’s spirit of unity remains a beacon of hope. The ongoing efforts of residents to support one another and seek equitable solutions demonstrate that, despite the obstacles they face, they are determined to uphold the values of their close-knit community and overcome the current hardships together. Please Come together, on Aug 8, 2023 at 6pm, during the town council meeting to show an united front and come to an over all agreement that best serves the residents of this humble yet amazing town.
Below is pictures from a resident to show examples of the water/sewage issues.
