I want to convey my hope and concerns for the meeting the Board of Supervisors will hold regarding the Plymouth Ditch. I have always believed the board of supervisors have the best interest of Plymouth at heart.

As a child I remember we had to save jars of water just in case the ditch broke. That always meant no water for anything not even drinking, unless you had some in storage. No cooking, no washing dishes, no laundry, no bathing, no flushing toilets and most important, washing hands unless you had stashed away for that extravagant event. I am so thankful that is not the case anymore. I remember also, we could not water outside.

But we had gardens out of necessity. We were always concerned at fair time, because of the additional use of water by the fair. We were asked to conserve water with a message broadcast to the citizens street by street by our law enforcement officer. And many residents, myself included, would visit the water tank to see how low the needle was.

As a result of our water problems, we have had a building moratorium for the last twenty years which has resulted in no construction of new homes and businesses. I also hear from the residents of Plymouth how difficult it is for them to pay their sewer and water bills. I hate to think of the increases that will be coming in the future. I am praying we will be able to use the Plymouth Ditch for a great positive for the citizens in the future.

Plymouth has spent over a million dollars to preserve the water rights on the Plymouth Ditch over thirty years. Now we have an investor, Shenandoah Management Company, willing to assist Plymouth to develop the ditch. It is wonderful that our city has found these investors who were willing to do what they did this summer. When have we seen so much water coming down the ditch? It is a dream come true.

Jon Colburn and I have sat in on many meetings with Shenandoah Management Company and been clear that Plymouth will not sell, trade or give away water rights from the ditch. This company will assist Plymouth at their expense to develop the water rights and to market the water for the benefit of the residents in Plymouth and the north county. Jon Colburn has also joined me in these meetings and has reinforced me with Shenandoah Management Company.

When has Plymouth had such a great opportunity? Now I am sure the Board of Supervisors are excited to help us build our relationship with the Shenandoah Management Company.

Editor's Note: Pat Shackleton was born and raised in Plymouth. She graduated from Amador High School in the 1950s. Her first job out of high school was at Roos's General Store in Plymouth. She also worked as the Plymouth branch librarian and now owns and operates the Monarch Montessori Pre-School. Pat and her husband Denny raised two daughters in Plymouth and she is now the proud grandmother of five grandchildren. Pat's family moved from Missouri and settled in Amador County on Farnham Ridge in the 1800s. They raised hogs to pay their taxes and keep their land. Pat has been the mayor of Plymouth four times since the 1970s.