Of course as someone noted above there are times when it makes sense for anyone to wait until more information comes in.

We do have Mr. O’Neal here too, who made a way better case for keeping the damn and countering Ms. Rubin in his Ann Arbow News piece. I really had no opinion on the damn until I read both articles. If you are upset about the turn of events you need to thank HRWC’s leader and her lack of political skills, not me.

John Charles

I believe that you are being a bit disingenuous regarding Ms. Rubin’s article in the Ann Arbor News. Unfortunately, she fails to clarify which part of the dam is failing. She offers up a “sky is falling” scenario with a very high dollar figure as well as a statement that rowers do not pay anything to maintain the dam.

First, her estimated cost is very high; she never considers simply closing the headrace to overcome the earthen berm. Second, she fails in the analysis that rowers do not pay for maintenance. As a resident of Ann Arbor, I believe that my taxes and water bills support many items that I do not use; bike lanes, bike racks, ice rinks, swimming pools, etc. So let us be careful of this statement. This is simply a case of the city council deciding what to fund or not to fund.

According to the City – the toe drains are not failing thus they are fighting the MDEQ finding which is also contrary to the Rubin article.

My suggestion is that a more thoughtful approach is to analyze all avenues truthfully and without bias. Unfortunately, The Rubin article fails on both accounts.

The toe drains are failing. You can complain all you want that the earthen berm “isn’t the dam,” but it’s included as part of the dam in the DEQ’s permit, and the effect of its failure is just as catastrophic. HRWC has repeatedly and publicly made it clear that the concrete and mechanical parts of the dam are in decent shape, but the berm isn’t. You keep dredging out this tired, discredited argument and making these personal attacks, yet you never complain about the Pollyannas who tell us the dam’s in “great condition” and there’s nothing to worry about. Sorry, but I’ll take the state Dam Safety office’s opinion on that one.

“Same as it ever was” no progress was made.