TKC READER: KANSAS CITY WATER DEPT. PRIVATIZATION OVER SEWER BONDS!!!
TKC NOTE: Check an e-mail regarding an upcoming election issue that was so thoughtful and well-written I had to post for the weekend . . . Check it:
ON THE SUBJECT OF IMPENDING SEWER BONDS
Tony, I am constantly reminded by our elected officials of how devastating it will be if we don't pass the sewer bond on August 7th.
I have read have the city is trying to put the shaft to us by saying they need the 1/2 sales tax for the streets, which I was under the impression that when the earnings tax was originally passed, it would take care of the streets.
Parks department, of which we have over 200 parks in K.C., some of which are never used. The list of demands goes on and on, although our income doesn't.
Getting back to the sewer bonds, it iritates me that the city chose the Director of water services. The city of K.C. got so ingenious that they have now split out water department in 3 different companies, and as 3 companies, all have a piece of our water bill. Add to that, Troy Schulte decided to change billing to monthly, from bi-monthly, causing our water bills to double. Paying monthly for the lease on the meters, which they couldn't bill us without, charging us for water billing each month, charging us sew taxes each month. On top of the above, they have inflicted double digit sewer taxes on us for each of the past 6 years. I see the problems with the water department, not as problems with the customers, but the leadership that Kansas City has provided us to run the department. If the Director of Water Services went to trade meetings and kept up with the needs and requirements, we wouldn't have these problems we're faced with today. At the rate they are talking about increases, we are going to have to resort to outhouses and having wells drilled just to exist.
I have proposed that Kansas City sell the water department, because with private ownership, if the water department went to the Public Service Commission to obtain the double digit increases that is being put on by K.C.,they would be hard pressed to obtain the increases we have to deal with. I proprose that K.C. seek an outside source to purchase the water department and get back to running the city and not bilking the citizens.
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14 Comments:
Shut up Terry Riley and Mike Burke, you proposed for-profit water because you are being paid to propose it. The Public Service Commission is politically OWNED by the "regulated" utilities, so it is not like they will get tough on rate increases. They never do. American Water wants to get control of the company because as a monopoly they could dictate prices in order to maximize profits ... Pure and Simple. The Public Service commission tale is nothing more than another Uncle Remus story about a briar patch.
Whoever wrote this sure has some good points--especially about customers being charged an extra administrative fee for monthly billing. My monthly bills are at least as high as my bimonthly bills used to be.
And $250 PER HOUR for a consultant? Please!
In the unlikely event the Water Dept. wanted to be helpful, they'd set up an automatic payment system like KCPL's. The $250 per hour guy should have thought of that one on his own.
And still no call for an audit of the Water Department.
Reardless of who owns the water department won't KC still be under federal regulations to fix the current problems? And won't that stil cost more money which will still mean a rate increase?
So unless whoever wrote this has a wat back machine we are stuck paying for the neglected repairs of the past. And by the way wasn't it Terry Riley who fought AGAINST privatizing water department when Kay Barnes was mayor? Why was it a bad idea then and a good one now?
Sorry that should be way back machine.
It was a bad idea both times that was pushed by Steve Glorioso for a price. Riley got paid for a while this time so Riley changed his mind.
Great post. More like this TKC.
Writer is an idiot. Water bills did not "double" because of monthly billing. You are still paying for the usage of water based on the amount used. The monthly charge was added, true, but that didn't double anyone's bill, unless you don't use water and are paying for the service access only.
New management in the water department is desperately needed. Any councilmembers lurking in here?
3:P06: It is a fact that my monthly water bills are now what my bimonthly bills were.
My water bills doubled for some reason. Maybe you could tell this "idiot" whay?
The Water Dept is run by Burns & Mac, who stand to make $500 Million from this project. The Council is bought and paid for by Burns & Mac...James, Circo and Jan...and Talboy to!!!
And just imagine how much the bond attorneys will make as the city continues to issue bonds for every project in sight.
For the insiders and usual suspects, the James administration is a gift that just keeps on giving.
Re-read the comment 6:41. Focus. Study the part about the monthly service charge. Try to understand.
just think of the outrage that would happen if a company tried to do this. if KCP&L tried to double rates every few years they would have pitch forks and torches at their main office and politicians would be fighting it every step of the way
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