Voters' Intent On Wehr's Dam Disregarded

South Whitehall, urged on by Commissioner Matt Mobilio,  has confirmed that they have no inclination to keep Wehr's Dam.   They feel no obligation to honor the voters' referendum of 2016 to save the dam.  They have distorted the voters' intent, and rationalize that anything over the $600k authorized by the referendum, frees them from any such obligation.

During the meeting of May 20, they said if we choose to keep the dam.

   The voters already chose that in 2016.  That amount of $600K was put in only as a fair faith estimate.

During the meeting of May 20, they said things outside of our control  affect the cost.

   The township and commissioners intentionally allowed things to get out of their control, by allowing the Wildlands Conservancy, dedicated to demolishing dams,  to interact with state DEP about the dam.  This ex-parte communication between the Wildlands and the DEP, not mentioned at the meeting, has escalated the repair into a rebuild.

Matt Mobilio wondered aloud during the meeting how they can get out from under this obligation. The board agreed to release to the general fund money set aside every year for the dam.

What Mobilio doesn't seem to understand is democracy... just as voters intended him to serve as a commissioner, they intended the dam to be kept.

The Matt Mobilios of the valley have it easy with a complicit newspaper.  For over three years, and three editors, the Morning Call has refused to publish my letters about the conspiracy against Wehr's Dam and the voters of South Whitehall.

photocredit: Jason Fink