Carefree Truth
Issue #743, April 30, 2019
Carefree Residents Alert
Did Cave Creek pay for the Mysterious Water Survey?
Last week we advised Carefree residents of a telephone survey that was underway from an unknown source. This survey referenced the transfer of the accounts of Carefree residents currently receiving water service from Cave Creek. This survey provided information which misled many of the residents being surveyed. As a result, many residents contacted the Town wanting to know who was conducting this survey and why.
Based upon the findings of our investigation, it appears that Cave Creek ordered the survey among Carefree residents in order to influence public opinion. When we contacted Cave Creek and instructed them to ‘cease and desist’, they didn’t deny that it was their survey and one of Cave Creek’s attorneys responded that they had done nothing illegal. So, the sponsor of this mysterious water survey is seemingly solved.
Background:
Carefree and Cave Creek are in the process of negotiating the orderly transfer of water service of over 500 Carefree homes and businesses to Carefree Water Company. This transfer of water service offers many benefits to Carefree and its residents, and is provided for under the terms of the existing Intergovernmental Agreement between the two entities.
Within the last ten days, Carefree became aware that many Carefree residents were being asked to respond to a “Research Study.” From reports received, Carefree came to believe that this study, under the guise that it was research, was a page out of the political tactics handbook designed to mislead Carefree residents. We believe that the research misstated information as factual and then asked questions based upon this incorrect information.
What Cave Creek may not want Carefree residents to know is:
Suspecting that it was Cave Creek behind this study,” on April 24th the Carefree Town Attorney sent a “Cease and Desist” letter to Cave Creek. A copy of this letter can be viewed by clicking HERE.
One of Cave Creek’s attorneys, a condemnation specialist from Tennessee named Joe A. Connor, responded on April 26th defending anyone’s, including Cave Creek’s, right to conduct such a study, stating that Cave Creek had done nothing illegal. Mr. Connor’s letter continued with discussing a number of the specific aspects of this study, e.g. comments on the questions asked and the ending date, which would only be known to whomever authorized the study. From this response, reasonable people could come to the conclusion that Cave Creek was the unnamed entity funding this study. A copy of this letter can be viewed by clicking HERE.
Carefree does not know the purpose of a study which uses misinformation as the underpinnings for questions to be researched. We fail to see how it could generate valid research findings. One possible reason is that the purpose of such a study may have been to generate opposition to Carefree continuing with the water service negotiations by seeding misinformation among Carefree residents.
(Lyn's note: This was released in COINS, but we may have readers who are not signed up for COINS, so we are also sharing it.)
Issue #743, April 30, 2019
Carefree Residents Alert
Did Cave Creek pay for the Mysterious Water Survey?
Last week we advised Carefree residents of a telephone survey that was underway from an unknown source. This survey referenced the transfer of the accounts of Carefree residents currently receiving water service from Cave Creek. This survey provided information which misled many of the residents being surveyed. As a result, many residents contacted the Town wanting to know who was conducting this survey and why.
Based upon the findings of our investigation, it appears that Cave Creek ordered the survey among Carefree residents in order to influence public opinion. When we contacted Cave Creek and instructed them to ‘cease and desist’, they didn’t deny that it was their survey and one of Cave Creek’s attorneys responded that they had done nothing illegal. So, the sponsor of this mysterious water survey is seemingly solved.
Background:
Carefree and Cave Creek are in the process of negotiating the orderly transfer of water service of over 500 Carefree homes and businesses to Carefree Water Company. This transfer of water service offers many benefits to Carefree and its residents, and is provided for under the terms of the existing Intergovernmental Agreement between the two entities.
Within the last ten days, Carefree became aware that many Carefree residents were being asked to respond to a “Research Study.” From reports received, Carefree came to believe that this study, under the guise that it was research, was a page out of the political tactics handbook designed to mislead Carefree residents. We believe that the research misstated information as factual and then asked questions based upon this incorrect information.
What Cave Creek may not want Carefree residents to know is:
- Carefree has a signed agreement with Cave Creek that permits the transfer of water service for those remaining Carefree homes and businesses currently serviced by Cave Creek Water. This agreement further states that this should be done in the spirit of cooperation and good faith between the two towns.
- When the Town informed Cave Creek that it was time to execute the agreement, they told us that they would only discuss water service to these accounts with Carefree through a condemnation action as part of the process identified in the agreement, rather than just agreeing to sit down and negotiate a fair, equitable and smooth transition.
Suspecting that it was Cave Creek behind this study,” on April 24th the Carefree Town Attorney sent a “Cease and Desist” letter to Cave Creek. A copy of this letter can be viewed by clicking HERE.
One of Cave Creek’s attorneys, a condemnation specialist from Tennessee named Joe A. Connor, responded on April 26th defending anyone’s, including Cave Creek’s, right to conduct such a study, stating that Cave Creek had done nothing illegal. Mr. Connor’s letter continued with discussing a number of the specific aspects of this study, e.g. comments on the questions asked and the ending date, which would only be known to whomever authorized the study. From this response, reasonable people could come to the conclusion that Cave Creek was the unnamed entity funding this study. A copy of this letter can be viewed by clicking HERE.
Carefree does not know the purpose of a study which uses misinformation as the underpinnings for questions to be researched. We fail to see how it could generate valid research findings. One possible reason is that the purpose of such a study may have been to generate opposition to Carefree continuing with the water service negotiations by seeding misinformation among Carefree residents.
(Lyn's note: This was released in COINS, but we may have readers who are not signed up for COINS, so we are also sharing it.)