CASINO MYTH BUSTERS!
CASINO MYTH #3
The Milford Water Company can provide plenty of water for a new destination resort casino, as well as existing residents and businesses!
THE FACTS:
Water Usage Restrictions Are an Ongoing Fact of Life Here in Milford.
The Milford Water Company is constantly monitoring and restricting water usage to ensure we do not run out of this precious commodity.
The current conservation status is STAGE II – DROUGHT WATCH, issued June 18, 2013. This mandatory requirement means that Milford residents are currently limited to using outside water between the hours of 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM on odd or even days, depending upon your house number.
Refer to: http://www.milfordwater.com/
Our Water Supply Is So Precarious That the Water Company Will Terminate Service Upon a Second Violation of the Conservation Order.
The Water Company stresses that they will issue a written warning for the first violation of the conservation order, but will TERMINATE water service upon a second violation. In fact, the Water Company asks local residents to:
Call and report any violators. … All calls are anonymous and no names are needed, just an address.
Refer to: http://www.milfordwater.com/wanted-water/
Milford Has a Minimal Buffer in Its Water Supply.
The Milford Water Company’s current production capacity is between 2.65 and 2.8 million gallons per day (MGD). Milford currently uses an average of 2.63MGD, leaving us with a reserve capacity of only 0.17 MGD. This low reserve capacity partially accounts for our ongoing water restrictions.
Take a look at the following numbers:
· Milford’s current total water usage is 2.63 MGD.
· Foxwoods says they will need 0.17 MGD for Phase I of their development.
· Add the two numbers and you get 2.80 MGD.
· Milford’s current maximum water production capacity is 2.80. This leaves NO RESERVE CAPACITY.
These numbers raise some critical questions:
· Foxwoods has not yet provided water requirement numbers for Phase II of their development. How much more water will Foxwoods need if it builds Phase II?
· The proposed casino development at Suffolk Downs is similar in size and scope to Foxwoods Phase I, but the Suffolk Downs casino water requirements are more than twice the Foxwoods estimate. What if the Foxwoods estimate is too low?
· Who will pay for an upgrade to the Water Company’s infrastructure to ensure Milford has a sufficient reserve capacity if a resort casino is built here?
· Will the Milford Water Company be able to supply enough water to all of Milford’s residents and businesses—including Foxwoods—if we undergo a severe drought?
· If the Water Company builds a new infrastructure to increase capacity as needed for Foxwoods Phase II, will this provide enough water capacity to allow for the expansion of Milford Hospital and other future development in town? Or, will we exceed our state-authorized allotment of water to provide for future development?
The Milford Water Company Has Been Unable to Obtain Water from Other Sources.
Shefsky & Froelich attorneys Cezar Froelich and Kimberly Copp reported to the Milford Board of Selectmen on June 17th that Foxwoods would seek water elsewhere, perhaps from Medway, if the Milford Water Company is unable to meet Foxwoods’ total demand. (Shefsky & Froelich is the law firm that has been hired by Milford using Foxwoods’ funds to oversee the review of Foxwoods’ plans.) However, the Milford Water Company website specifically states:
The company has made attempts to purchase additional water from its neighboring communities but like Milford they have no extra water available.
Refer to: http://www.milfordwater.com/wanted-water/
For even more details regarding Foxwoods’ plans for using Milford’s water supply, refer to “Evaluation of the Foxwoods MA Proposed Casino Development Presentation as Delivered to the Milford Board of Selectmen on June 3, 2013” Click Here
We can preserve our community AND our water supply
by working together to keep Milford Casino Free!
Learn how on our website CasinoFreeMilford.com
and in our printable flyer “15 Easy Ways You Can Help Keep Milford Casino Free” Click Here
Recent News
Signs for and against spread across Milford. Click here for story
Casino-Free Milford Evaluation of the Foxwoods proposal delivered to Milford Selectmen on June 3. Click here for report
Milford Selectmen question town's consultants. Click here for story
Impact on local schools. Click here for story
Residents of Everett, MA overwhelmingly approve Wynn's casino.
Click here for story
Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Connecticut to build outlet malls at their casinos. Click here for story
Upcoming Events
Foxwoods Massachusetts has scheduled four public meetings in July to allow residents, town officials and business owners to ask questions about specific elements in its casino proposal.
The meetings are as follows:
· July 10, traffic plans, patterns and infrastructure, 7 p.m., Milford High School.
· July 17, water and sewer impacts, infrastructure upgrades, 7 p.m., Milford High School.
· July 24, social and economic impacts of project, 7 p.m., Milford High School
· July 31, environmental and site design matters of project, general overview, 7 p.m., Milford High School
The meetings are designed to allow the developer, Foxwoods Massachusetts, to present plans and answer specific questions about aspects of the project.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for each presentation, with the developer's presentation to begin at 7 p.m. No questions will be allowed during the presentation, which will be moderated by the town's consultants.
Immediately after the presentation, Milford department heads and consultants will have an opportunity to ask questions. Then the Milford Selectmen will have the same opportunity.
After the town officials and consultants have finished, town residents and business owners can ask questions of the developer or town officials. According to the news release, people who want to ask questions have to sign in before the meeting begins, with their questions being taken up in that order. Milford residents and business owners can have up to 3 minutes to ask a question.
No demonstration signs will be allowed inside the meeting halls, according to the news release, and residents and business owners are encouraged to ask questions about the development, not make statements about whether they are in favor or opposed.
"The town expects all attendees to show a high degree of respect to all casino proposers and casino opponents. Disorderly conduct will not be tolerated."
The meetings will be broadcast live on Comcast Channel 8 and Verizon Channel 40. A recording also will be posted to the town's website.
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