Wednesday, August 02, 2006

To Flush, Please Deposit------!

As sad and incomprehensible as it is, it appears that the bulk of our illustrious Common Council is once again going sit on their collective hands and do nothing of consequense to alliviate our ongoing sewer debacle.

I attended yesterdays Sewer Board meeting as well as the joint conference of the Common Council & Sewer Board that followed.

At the first, I was delighted to find not one but two sane & responsible voices in the form of board members Todd Soloman & Bill Utz. Bill I take it has been around long enough to have a real life historical perspective and Mr. Soloman is the sharpest pencil I've seen in this city's advisory boards yet. He has done his homework and comes to the table with legitimate real world solutions as far as the infrastructure problems are concerned. He is aware of the financial woes, but understands that the do nothing mode we have been in for all these decades is about to catch up big time.

My elation was shortlived however, for most of his proposals fell either on deaf ears or into the "We need to wait until after September 1st" chasm. It very quickly became painfully obvious that neither of the councilmen on the Sewer Board were into the proceedings save to defend their respective positions concerning past sins. Forward thinking was not on their agenda unless CM Seabrooks concept of reorganizing the sewer board counts as such.

The final act of their meeting was a presentation by Marc McCormick as to the current financial health of the Sewer Utitility during which he uequivocally stated the same information I heard at the last Commom Council meeting. That being the sewer departments income is too low to meet bond requirements & operating costs. The Mayor then asked him to stay close 'cause he would have to repeat it again to the entire counsel (minus CM Blevins) in just a few moments.

The second session was for all practical purposes a near word for word repeat of the previous council meeting save that Mr. McCormick was the object of their misguided objections as opposed to the Umbaugh representatives.

All in all the general consensus was "we should have had this info a year ago" and "we need more information to make an intelligent decision" and " We can use other funds from other places to fill this quicksand pit" and "The taxpayers of New Albany can not continue to be burdened with these defieciencies" and, well you get the idea.

The bell finally tolled 7PM and since there was another meeting scheduled for that time slot, this one was mercifully adjourned. Umbaugh representatives had come from Indianapoils and sat thru the proceedings without comment save to confirm a couple of figures for Mr. Fifer while he was at the podium. At the end Attorney Fifer asked the council if they had any questions for these folks.

Council President Gahan glanced once again at his watch and calmly said "No, we're fine" , dropped the gavel, and that was that.

After all is said & done, my read of the tea leaves is that, with the possible exception of two CM's, there are none on the council that have the foresight nor understanding, let alone the will, to bite the political bullet and pass a sewer rate increase period. However, that quicksand pit is growing by the moment!

So rally 'round the flag folks, 'cause we got serious work to do!!

3 Comments:

At Thu Aug 03, 09:36:00 AM, Blogger Iamhoosier said...

We may have "cooked" books. There may be money "missing". I really don't know. I do know that any missing money has yet to be found or proven to the authorities. This may yet happen but we are up against a deadline.

Reality has to set in sometime. If we miss a chance to refinance and save $1 million--it is not only a shame but STUPID. If we go into technical default on the bonds--it is not only a shame but STUPID.

Raise the rate and if this "missing" money is found, lower the rate later. I know it is difficult to lower any rate or tax, I am not that big of an idiot.
For the members who think there is a skunk in the woodpile, they can pledge along the lines of "I am voting for this only because of the reality of the current situation. I pledge to continue trying to get to the bottom of this mess and when the money is found, vote to repeal this increase."

 
At Thu Aug 03, 09:55:00 AM, Blogger G Coyle said...

I really wish I understood this whole sewer mess. I truly appreciate your information Lloyd. You're *get to the point* spin is refreshing here'abouts. In general, in economics, if you're not paying what it costs, you create these disincentives to conservation and innovation. I'd be happy to pay more for sewer and water 'cause I'm working on conserving too. For example...we are watering during this heat-wave, so far, without any city water...just our rain barrel supply. Free soft sweet rain water and the plants prefer it. We should all switch to low-flow toilets and showerheads etc. In some parts of the country these are mandated by law. There is conservation too.

 
At Fri Aug 04, 01:54:00 AM, Blogger All4Word said...

Tks, Highwayman.

Hard to imagine, but I have to agree with you that this council, with limited exceptions, would rather pander than own up.

Any council member who fails to vote Monday to raise the sewer rate is, in my estimation, performing a criminal malfeasance, and abdication of responsibility that is completely unforgivable.

The fringe argument that "we" have already paid this before is a demented point of view. "We" elected this council. This and the previous council calculated that pandering would pay off.

It is time to pay the piper, if not now, then in May and November of 2007.

The wrath that will bear down in May is awesome to contemplate, and the money that will flow to even the most feeble opponent of the "irresponsibles" will wash them off the electoral map.

The culture may not (yet) have changed, but the makeup of the council will surely be altered. I'm frankly in awe of the dollar numbers I've heard that are in play to devastate the campaigns of incumbents who now feel invulnerable. It will only be proof of their misjudgments of the political lay of the land.

Are dollars pure? No. But exposure can be purchased, and once the voters know the facts about who has put responsibility to the city in the rear of personal ambition, political survival will be impossible.

The lukewarm will be spit out, as the good book says, and the wicked will be cast down.

It is left to us to defend the courageous, not the misguided, and certainly not the venal.

Bye-bye, boys. Monday determines your political future. Your miscalculation will play into the hands of your opponents, a number you underestimate at your peril.

Again, thanks, Man o' da highway.

 

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