TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! KANSAS CITY WATER DEPARTMENT CAN'T HANDLE THEIR CURRENT WORKFLOW!!!
Below the surface, the biggest upcoming debate in Kansas City history is soon to spurt forth . . .
THE KANSAS CITY WATER DEPARTMENT IS IN PLAY AND THIS TOWN'S OLD AND BUSTED INFRASTRUCTURE IS PUSHING THAT DEAL AHEAD FASTER THAN ANY OTHER FACTOR!!!
Former Council Dude Terry Riley can't lobby KCMO for another year but he's still working for American Water and right now that company is taking a lot of important meetings in town . . .
And let's not forget about Bill George and his French benefactors at Veolia who would love to take control of this town's most precious resource . . .
It's a move that would also impact surrounding suburbs who buy water from KCMO. And this deal is getting closer to reality because Kansas City's pipes are old and busted . . .
In fact . . .
THE KANSAS CITY WATER DEPARTMENT CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH THIS TOWN'S BROKEN INFRASTRUCTURE DURING THE CURRENT HEAT WAVE AND OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS ARE BEING CALLED IN TO DEAL WITH THE HOT MESS!!!
Check the evidence BEFORE you take a look at your steadily increasing water bill during this deadly heatwave that might also start to change the structure of Kansas City Services . . .
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WSD hires contractors to assist with water main breaks
Due to the excessive heat, the City of Kansas City, Mo., is experiencing an above average number of water main breaks. The City's Water Services Department has called in additional crews and will be enlisting the assistance of contractor crews to repair the breaks. Crews will work as quickly as possible to restore service to residents.
"We are working as quickly as possible to repair multiple breaks and restore water service," said Acting Water Services Director Terry Leeds. "Contractors will be assisting Water Services Pipeline Crews to make repairs."
For more information, contact Colleen Doctorian, public information officer for the Water Services Department, at 816-513-0232.
The Kansas City, Mo., Water Services Department maintains and operates water collection, processing and distribution systems, storm water management and control systems, and waste water collection and processing systems for residential and business customers in Kansas City and for wholesale customers in the Kansas City region. Operation is funded by fees charged to customers based on their use of products and services.
Follow Kansas City Water Services on Facebook under Kansas City Water Services and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kcmowater.
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Maybe they just need a good nap?
ReplyDeleteListening to Riley et al again I see Tony.
ReplyDeleteThe City has always hired outside contractors to do some of the water line repairs, especially emergency work. This is nothing new. If you don't believe me, just look at some of the agendas for the current Transportation and Infrastructure Committee or the old Operations Committee.
ReplyDeleteMy God Bill George? He acts like he owns City Hall already, now the Water Department? No!
ReplyDeleteWake up Kansas City. This is just a money grab and an attempt to sell off a valuable asset.
ReplyDeleteIf we let this happen, we will be buying Perrier at the QT for less than we will be paying for tap water.
Terry Riley is broke and will sell anyone out for a few bucks.
I remember when Terry was fighting against a water dept. privatiziation effort.
Oh how things have changed
This sounds like a lovely corporation to control your water:
ReplyDeletehttp://citizensvoice.com/news/business/customers-criticize-water-rate-hike-plan-1.1179102#axzz1SvkHbUgb
No public comments taken regarding rate increase?
ReplyDeleteYeah that is a great fucking idea, let's have some New Jersey Corporation run OUR water department:
http://www.wqad.com/news/wqad-iowaamerican-water-rate-increase-granted-20110722,0,1915523.story
Hingham and Hull, Massachusetts
ReplyDeleteMassachusetts-American, an American Water Works subsidiary, more than doubled water rates over a five-year period, claiming the increase was needed to build a new water treatment facility. There is evidence, however, that the company inflated the costs of the new facility to increase its profits.(2)
They are doing a MUCH better job lately. In years past they'd just tell people their water leaks weren't as bad as others, so they'd just have to tough it out. We had a leak near 75th & Holmes that went on for months. Now at least they're out there quickly taking care of the problems. Who cares if they hire contractors to do it? This is no excuse to sell the Water Dept. to someone who'll turn KC into Urinetown.
ReplyDeleteHuber Heights, Ohio
ReplyDeleteIn 1993, American Water Works purchased Ohio Suburban Water, a small outfit that provided water for 40,000 customers in Huber Heights and parts of the Mad River Township. The city opposed the sale, concerned that the company would raise rates and extend service to areas beyond the city limits without annexation, thus impairing the city’s ability to grow. The city’s fears soon materialized – the company increased its rates by 30 percent. At the same time the company moved to contract with Industrial Water to deliver up to 2 million gallons of Huber Heights’ water a day to the Wiley Industrial Park, located outside the city.(2)
Pekin, Illinois
ReplyDeleteIn 1982, Illinois-American, another subsidiary of American Water Works, acquired Pekin’s water system from a local private owner. In the 18 years that followed, rates increased by 204 percent. At the same time, the company failed to keep infrastructure up-to-date. The company’s behavior negatively impacted the city’s economic growth and added to its expenses.(2)
Check out this link a bit closer to home that shows a 23 percent rate hike.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_bf01d9d1-f734-574b-aa8c-72a5e1d1570f.html
And the French aren't real great utility managers, either:
ReplyDeletehttp://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2011/04/whats-little-water-overbilling-between.html
Hate to break it to you, but our KCMO rates are going up 200% or more regardless of what happens with the ownership deal. The big water and sewer project that will cost over $2 billion promises that regardless. Now it is a mater of determining who can keep those costs the lowest. Black & Veatch already just about runs the Water Department already anyway.
ReplyDeletePrivatize the Water Department!
ReplyDeletePrivatize the police department!
ReplyDeleteIndianapolis threw French Veolia out in Water and Las Vegas has in Transit. Corruption and Monopolistic practices are their specialties. They're in controversy in virtually every city they do business and labor hates them. They politic, then low ball, then reduce service while raising prices. Google them.
ReplyDeleteBill George is the perfect front man for their efforts to take over water, ATA and the airport. He's a slick talking hard ball playing major $ man who put huge $ in the last election. Let's hope the Council see's him for what he is and does their homework on Veolia.
At least "American" Water is a US company.
I would rather get screwed by people who at least know ow to run a business versus the lazy-ass idiot Water Department employees who are basically welfare recipients.
ReplyDeletejust keep terry riley out of the equation when hes involved we all get screwed. they been trying to privatize the water and aviation dept for as long as i been here and thats 40 years.
ReplyDeleteThe fear/hatred of (gasp) corporations is silly. What if some hipster-approved corporation like Apple or Teader Joe's offered to run our water, then would the commenters here be less terrified?
ReplyDeleteEveryone agrees that for whatever reason, the City can't competently run the water dept. Tony links to an article describing how the hot weather is just too much for the City's department.
And the commenters demand continued City. You guys have the government and services you deserve.
Neither breaking nor exclusive. Ask anyone who has lived in Kansas City for more than a year.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Tony. Maybe next you'll give us a "breaking" story about how Mark Funkhouser wasn't a very good mayor.
10:10 and yet here you are checking out his blog. What a dipshit.
ReplyDeletePrivatizing utilities, especially water, is a hugely dangerous proposition. Private corporations serve their shareholders, not the public. They profit off the exorbitant rate increases they will apply. If Terry Riley is for such privatization--well, who's surprised--he's whoring himself.
ReplyDeleteHow is it exactly that Terry is able to lobby for this company? Oh yeah, becuase he is corrupt. I forgot.
ReplyDeleteHe and Kathy Nugent would sell their mothers for a dime.
Thank God Dick Davis is around to protect the Bus and Airport properties from the French Veolia vultures.
ReplyDeleteGet a load of this info:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2010/10/02/20101002phoenix-mayor-phil-gordon-transit-session.html
(yes sir....the Mayor's girlfriend was hired by Veolia as a lobbyist!)
Water's just the beginning...
Time to U-haul.
ReplyDeleteNice hissy fight between 10:10 and 10:48.
ReplyDeleteYour e-tax dollars were suppose to solve this. Remember all the promises.
ReplyDeleteThere is no connection between e-tax and the Water Services Department, which is an enterprise fund. If you're going to be critical at least know some facts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste of Tax dollars.
ReplyDelete7:17 - It's all the same pot. You playing semantics is just part of the same b.s. that makes Kansas City services so horrible.
ReplyDeleteSo many crooks trying to wiggle their way into Sly's pot of gold.
ReplyDeleteNew leadership needed there. They should NOT be promoting from within. Need fresh ideas.
ReplyDeleteDick Davis, Terry Riley, Cathy Nugent...god help us all. Dick can't save shit, Terry and Cathy are whores. I'm not necessarily against privatization but I am against those two crooked goons and any company they work for.
ReplyDeleteFirst the life gets sucked out of our local bars and restaurant business by out of town interest. Now water is the target. Word has it the airport and bus system next. Who are the local champions on the council. Guess we'll find out soon.
ReplyDeleteEPA Consent Decree mandates what happens in Water. Maybe the new director that is to be hired will be able to handle. Private management won't change much just look at what happened when St. Louis was privatized- big disaster.
ReplyDeleteAs city hall fills itself up with more and more niggers, more and more dollars will be stolen...The Epistle according to Kendrick..
ReplyDeleteRex Sinqfield is behind the privatization shit. He's also tied to a big investment in Veolia. Look it up.
ReplyDelete12:07 - St. Louis City has not privatized its water division, and St. Louis County water has always been privately provided, so I don't know what privatization "disaster" you might be referring to.
ReplyDeleteI am not against privatization but you need to show a large reduction in cost to the tax payers if you are going to give away such an asset. The water bill has been going up steadily in the preceding years. Storm sewer tax, solid waste, billing cycle shortens and administrative fees rising. Wages have been stagnating in Kansas City for a very long time and the cost of living here as been raising at an alarming rate. I Would much rather see a 25 or even 50 year plan to fix the aging problems here in Kansas City. With a stead fast approach instead of a knee jerk panic.
ReplyDeleteI am not against privatization but you need to show a large reduction in cost to the tax payers if you are going to give away such an asset. The water bill has been going up steadily in the preceding years. Storm sewer tax, solid waste, billing cycle shortens and administrative fees rising. Wages have been stagnating in Kansas City for a very long time and the cost of living here as been raising at an alarming rate. I Would much rather see a 25 or even 50 year plan to fix the aging problems here in Kansas City. With a stead fast approach instead of a knee jerk panic.
ReplyDeleteI used to pay between 45.00 and 55.00 dollars every two months, being just me and my daughter in the home we do not consume very much. Now I am being charged that same amount monthly. I also find it strange that they would charge me a lot more during the summer even though I do not water my lawn and our consumption in the home is about the same as during the winter (we drink bottled water too). When I went out of town in August of 2006 and I was gone for a whole month, the bill still came with the usual charge as if I had been in the house during that time. It was an effort trying solving that mystery until I gave up and paid the bill.
ReplyDelete