I dropped a note off to the Board of Supervisors the other day, commenting on the “SmartMeter debate.” Actually, I only had two words for them, “mass hysteria,” that is what it is, you know.

I also mentioned that to my knowledge every water customer of Lake County Special Districts has some version of a “smart water meter. Many of these may be read by a wandlike device that picks up the signal emanating from the meter box.

On the other hand, more modern water meters, which are installed in other local communities, provide a radio signal that is broadcast from the meter box directly to the meter reader’s vehicle.

I wonder if the various boards of directors asked for resident permission before these devices where installed. I wouldn’t think so, as they reduce operating costs and increase efficiency.

Oh, wait … better efficiency, that means higher cost to consumer, doesn’t it? As a matter of fact, the sales pitch from the meter manufacturers is higher accuracy means increased income. Of course I doubt if the local boards are conspiring to control your water use, or are they?

Robert Stark lives in Cobb, Calif.