Still, nice to know Nestle doesn’t always get it their way, though they have a sizable legal department. Let’s hope the Supreme Court pulls the rug out from under them also.

It’s important to note that Nestles — despite asserting to me that their Michigan water plants had been operating with no problems — got nailed their too, and had to reduce pumping quantities by half.

More to come on those sleazy bastards.

The people had in front of them at town meeting a 19 page land use ordinance amendment to change the current one regarding water extraction and wellhead protection. This ordinance had been written over several years with many people’s input, including those of Poland Spring’s lawyers. There are those in town who are suspect that Nestle/Poland Spring had more than just a passing input to the ordinance. Remember, this was written by the planning board who approved an industrial trucking facility in a part of town with rural zoning. (that case, the people appealed, and Nestle has appealed all the way to the Supreme Court and the case will be heard April 10th).

The vote was moved to early in the meeting. I could go on about the wrangling, the discussions, the posturing, but the final vote was 53 in favor of the 19 page ordinance which secured the position of the bulk water haulers. The NAYS WON… with 125 votes! The ordinance as written, was defeated.. and handily. Finally the people won one victory…

A second article was moved just before lunch as well. This petitioned article was to enlarge the selectmen’s board to 5 members from 3. Speculation is that this was to water down the votes of the existing board. Snide comments were made by the proponents as well as many condescending remarks that flew around the room from those who did not want the embarrassing questions. None of the current selectmen were in favor of this either. When the vote was finally called, there was NO question, no need for a standing vote. The NAYs won again, and defeated a 5 man board.

Maybe the people have spoken loud so Nestle will hear.

More coming soon on Nestle, including their heavy-handed attempts to scuttle Maine’s groundwater ballot issue.

Wilfong’s exceptional essay on Nestle will be front and center.

Nestle (Corporate Mission Statement: “We encourage public participation and maintain open communications with every community in which we operate, provided they ask no embarrassing questions and kiss our ass.”) has done some evil shit in Maine and Michigan, preying on small communities.

The local Nestle operative is very, very good at his job, but I sometimes wonder if he casts a shadow.

An update of the struggle in Maine, titled “Who Owns Maine”s Water – Nestle or the People?” can be found at onthecommons.org.

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I don’t know if you read my post but I was wondering if you would be interested in one of my BWO dry flies for a tryout? It is my own recipe and I would be honored if you would give it a try. size 18 bwo parachute dry fly (cdc post).

And you’re right about Maine. That’s one of the reasons I’m fascinated with the place–there’s a strong sense of what it means to be a Mainer.

I suppose every big company is run like this, and it will be up to activists to set things straight (yes… saying the word ‘activists’ sent chills up my spine).