Forty-plus years ago, my family and I bought a nice little piece of land in northwestern Kosciusko County to build a home and raise our children. Things went really well for about 20 years, then things began to change. Big Ag started to move in. All available land was either bought up or rented out. An 11-acre woods was eliminated to make more farm land. This had been home to wildlife and many beautiful birds. The wildlife either had to find another place to go or die.
Then came the irrigation pumps. When we built our house, we wanted a basement, but were told we couldn't have one because the water table was too high and the basement would flood. That is certainly not the case now. This past summer was rough. Neighbors to the west of me lost access to water completely for a time. One had to call a well driller on a Sunday morning. I never completely lost water, but the pressure was low.
The Health Department proved to be of little use. It seems that Big Ag doesn't need a permit for a well, nor is there a record of its depth. The conversation I had with the person at the DNR was laughable. She suggested that I see a lawyer. Really? Based on what? There is no law, no statute, no regulation on which to base a lawsuit. She went on to tell me that the DNR "only works with producers.” That's lovely, but what about the rest of us. I was always under the impression that water is a natural resource and a right. Obviously, I've been wrong.
I respectfully suggest the DNR be disbanded and I resent any tax money going to fund it.
I've mowed my lawn four times thus far this year, usually something that brings me a lot of joy and happiness. This year it was a sad and disappointing experience the first time. Subsequent cuttings have brought anger and bitterness.
I have 40-plus years of blood, sweat, tears, love and money invested in my lawn. What once resembled a golf course now is riddled with dead, bare patches. To add insult to injury, my shrubs are dying because the water supply is being depleted from irrigation systems running 24/7. April 15th I sent a check for $87 to the Department of Revenue. I don't have 87 cents worth of representation. Soon property taxes will be due. I will be paying taxes on a piece of property that someone else is allowed to destroy.
Residents of Indiana are among the top third of the nation's most highly taxed citizens. For this we get year after year of punitive, draconian, crackpot nonsense. This summer will no doubt bring the necessity of a new well, as we've had precious little snowfall and rain. I can't even afford a subscription to the Times-Union, I don't know how I'm going to pay for a new well.
Will the people that are paid to represent me care? Not in the least. Mishler has always been useless. Nisly has surrounded himself with such a labyrinth of people that just shuttle phone calls, that I'm guessing he doesn't want to discuss this either.
