This is in response to the letter from Bob Sullivan on July 3. He should have done some research before putting his name on the letter. Matt Cooper is not on the village payroll; he is an employee for his engineering firm working under a contract between his firm and the village.

The village water rates are not the highest in the state; in fact, they are about half of the state average rate and will continue to be upon the completion of the planned project. If the village officials had agreed to an unprecedented request by the landowners of the new village wells to receive lifetime royalties on the volume of water taken from these wells, the water tax rate in the village could have exceeded the state average.

As for the 50 cents per $1,000 of assessment tax increase, this would amount to $36 a year for a home assessed at $72,000. This happens to be the same amount my trash pick up has increased as a non-village resident.

In regards to his other concerns, I suggest he talk with the people who have knowledge of these issues and he would understand why the suggested actions for each of these issues have been proposed.

Matt Cooper has made a commitment to make Copenhagen his permanent residence, investing considerable resources in a home here. He and his wife have joined a local church, and Matt continues to donate his time to local volunteer programs.

Matt's great-grandfather heard that Copenhagen was a great community to raise children, so he moved his family of 10 from St. Lawrence County to Copenhagen during the Great Depression. This love for Copenhagen has been passed on from generation to generation.

I observed my father's dedication as village superintendent from the late 1950s to the early 1980s, striving to make Copenhagen a better place to live. Now observing my son, Matt Cooper, with the same commitment, makes me proud.

Residents of Copenhagen should be observing what's going on. You have already lost a mayor who had achieved many improvements for the community. If Copenhagen is to continue to be one of the premier communities of the north country, then it's time you showed your support for your local elected officials and their selected representatives who have the knowledge, wisdom and ambition to accomplish this.

Robert L. Cooper

Copenhagen