In doing so, they agreed to assess Ponds 1 and 2 Municipal Service District (MSD) members only $261,000 in spite of signed acknowledgments that they demanded and conditioned their vote on, stating that they would assess the MSD members $256,000. This is the latest example of selective memory on the council's part.

Reference is further made in the resolution that the MSD will continue. No one should consider for a nanosecond that the single negative vote given was in support of abolishing the MSD.

This negative vote was nothing more than rejection of the majority position that the village had a moral obligation in sharing costs of the Dam 1 reconstruction.

One needs only to read the approved resolution language, Section 1, to see that its intent was cost-sharing and not MSD abolishment.

The council had an ideal opportunity to end a 13-year MSD saga and, finally, be seen as doing something right.

One would think they would relish being seen as intelligently resolving an issue, given that their current New Core, Rt. 2/Carolina Vista, Historic District planning leaves much to be desired.

Instead, they chose to continue their financial punishment of 22 families living in the MSD.

It is deplorable that they can continue to rationalize that costs of maintaining village property comprising the MSD, which is fully accessible by all residents, should be solely borne by the MSD members.

The only questions Pinehurst residents should now be asking are: Why is the council intent on punishing the MSD members?

Why do we not now drastically need a radical change in council membership?

Doug Middaugh

Pinehurst

(Note: Writer Middaugh lives in the affected area.)