Can dam pay for pond?

Published 4:00 am Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Before I could consider supporting the use of local taxpayer dollars for the dredging of Mirror Pond, I would need to know more — a lot more — about the operation of the hydroelectric dam served by Mirror Pond.

Specifically, why can’t the electricity generated by the dam include a surcharge, paid into a trust fund, to help with the periodic dredging of Mirror Pond? Surely the power company already includes a surcharge for maintenance and operation of the dam. If the presence of Mirror Pond makes the dam economically feasible, then those who benefit from the dam’s presence should be asked to pay a significant share of the dredging bill.

Finally, is that dam subject to occasional licensing? If so, by whom? We need to know more.

Karen Berky

Bend