Ill-timed decision

Dear editor:
I can’t help but wonder why the powers that be would decide that now, during the spring and early summer months, is the right time to implement 10 weeks of total water restrictions on the taxpayers of the Town of Fort Frances (May 28-July 30).
This is the time of the year when may citizens of the Town of Fort Frances plant their vegetable gardens and/or start new lawns. Many people have spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over the years beautifying their yards (and therefore our town) with perennials and each spring with annual flowers.
If they can’t nourish them via regular watering, especially during the early spring and summer months, what will happen to them?
Many of our citizens have planted vegetable gardens here for decades. Some may sell their crops for additional income while many, if not most, will use these foods for their own personal use throughout the late summer, fall, and winter months—often sharing their bounty with family, friends, and neighbours.
These crops can help to offset the financial drain on their incomes from the cost of purchasing these same, often pricey, items in the grocery stores.
The town states a pumping station will be set up at the local Sorting Gap Marina. That could be a good idea, however, many of these people do not their own mode of transportation—and even those that do surely cannot be expected to haul enough water, even every other day, to properly maintain their flower and vegetable gardens.
It takes quite an amount of water to keep them healthy. It is vital that these plants and gardens be watered during their initial growth period to develop into healthy, vigorous flowers and food-producing plants.
I realize there was a brief article in the paper some time ago stating that this work would be scheduled, however, here are some questions:
Why is it that our water tower must be done immediately? Is it in such a terrible state of deterioration/disrepair that it cannot wait for a more appropriate time of the year?
Why were we notified via a newspaper notice on May 16 that these restrictions would come into effect on May 28, giving us only 12 days’ notice of the actual time frame?
Why can this project not wait until perhaps late August, when these crops are mostly mature, to begin the renovations to our water tower?
With the rising cost of fuel and the threat of some major increases in the price of fresh produce to be coming soon, why can this project not be put off until perhaps the end of August and give our towns’ folk a break (i.e., Aug. 28-Oct. 30).
I would really like to see other concerned citizens of our Town of Fort Frances air their opinions and concerns on this topic. Perhaps it is already too late to have this work postponed, but one never knows!
(Signed),
Frank Fraser
Fort Frances, Ont.