Water, Water Everywhere...
DID MESA CONSOLIDATED WATER PASS INCREASES?
I spoke with Coleen Monteleone, Administrative Manager at Mesa Consolidated Water District, this afternoon. I was curious about how the hearing went on the proposed rate increases last night.
THE ANSWER IS "YES"!
Coleen told me that, first of all, the Board passed the rate increases as proposed. That means that we will be paying roughly 25% more for our water at the end of five years than we are paying now, and that the progressive increases will not require any further public hearings to implement the subsequent increases.
POWERPOINT ANSWERED QUESTIONS
She sent me the PowerPoint presentation used last night and answered several of my questions about this process. While it seems curious that such a huge increase would be bitten off in such a huge gulp, and that the only public hearing on these increases is being held three days before Christmas, when most residents are preoccupied with holiday responsibilities, I'm personally satisfied that this process is OK.
ONLY 10 SPEAKERS SHOWED UP
Ms. Monteleone told me that 10 people spoke before the Board regarding the rate increases and that 8 of them approved the increases. Thanks to those folks who took the time during this busy holiday season to present their views to the Board. She went on to tell me that currently the ratepayers of the district are paying only $.003 per gallon of water and that, after the final increase as proposed in five years, will be paying only $.004 per gallon.
NO MEDIA COVERAGE....?
It's interesting that none of the local media has provided any mention of the meeting or the results. I guess our water and a 25% increase really isn't news these days.
SPREAD YOUR WEALTH
So, dear readers, we have one more day until Christmas. I hope you spend tomorrow wisely, buying gifts for those you love and also finding a little change in your pockets for those less fortunate. The land of Newport-Mesa has many, many wonderful groups more than willing to help funnel your spare change into the hands of folks who really need it.
MORE CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR YOU TO HEAR
Once again I leave you with a couple very nice holiday clips to consider...
I spoke with Coleen Monteleone, Administrative Manager at Mesa Consolidated Water District, this afternoon. I was curious about how the hearing went on the proposed rate increases last night.
THE ANSWER IS "YES"!
Coleen told me that, first of all, the Board passed the rate increases as proposed. That means that we will be paying roughly 25% more for our water at the end of five years than we are paying now, and that the progressive increases will not require any further public hearings to implement the subsequent increases.
POWERPOINT ANSWERED QUESTIONS
She sent me the PowerPoint presentation used last night and answered several of my questions about this process. While it seems curious that such a huge increase would be bitten off in such a huge gulp, and that the only public hearing on these increases is being held three days before Christmas, when most residents are preoccupied with holiday responsibilities, I'm personally satisfied that this process is OK.
ONLY 10 SPEAKERS SHOWED UP
Ms. Monteleone told me that 10 people spoke before the Board regarding the rate increases and that 8 of them approved the increases. Thanks to those folks who took the time during this busy holiday season to present their views to the Board. She went on to tell me that currently the ratepayers of the district are paying only $.003 per gallon of water and that, after the final increase as proposed in five years, will be paying only $.004 per gallon.
NO MEDIA COVERAGE....?
It's interesting that none of the local media has provided any mention of the meeting or the results. I guess our water and a 25% increase really isn't news these days.
SPREAD YOUR WEALTH
So, dear readers, we have one more day until Christmas. I hope you spend tomorrow wisely, buying gifts for those you love and also finding a little change in your pockets for those less fortunate. The land of Newport-Mesa has many, many wonderful groups more than willing to help funnel your spare change into the hands of folks who really need it.
MORE CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR YOU TO HEAR
Once again I leave you with a couple very nice holiday clips to consider...
HARRY BELAFONTE - MARY'S BOY CHILD
HUNTER BAPTIST CHURCH CHOIR - JOY TO THE WORLD
Labels: Mesa Consolidated Water District
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 12/23/2009 09:14:00 PM
3 Comments:
The person you spoke with at the Mesa Water District is incorrect. There were at least 15 people there, and 95% of them did not agree with the fee increase. Look at the budget Geoff-Mesa has done very little to help offset the fee increase; much more could have been done. They have two people who just retired who make over $100K a year in retirement. They have only cut two and a half positions, and they were all positions where the jobs were where the person had completed all the projects required, another that had not been filled in 2+ years, and an admin position went down to half time.
I don't think our water board "leaders" are being as fiscally responsible as much as they should be. Their solution to ratepayers is to just cut water use, which we have done over many years.
Additionally, if you were there, the way that the water board members talked to the dissenters was absolutely horrible. Condescending and arrogant are the two terms that come to my mind. I can’t wait till next election; we need more fiscally responsible people who question versus rubber stamp tax increases.
CM Mesa North, thanks for the input. Of course my contact would paint a rosey picture - that's her job! I really do appreciate you signing in and providing your view. The proximity to the holiday kept me from attending, but I'm glad you carved out time to go to the meeting.
As is the case with many obscure boards - like the Sanitary District, for example - the folks on those boards kind of run them as dictatorships because nobody pays attention. They are perfect examples of us getting the government we deserve. If we don't pay attention abuse will follow.
I suspect your terms were very accurate. The only way to change that is to elect folks that are actually responsive to the needs of the community they serve.
Thanks, again, for your comment.
Geoff, you need to seriously reconsider your contacts at Mesa. Who in their right mind goes to support a 25% rate increase besides employees or people who would benefit from that increase? And you actually believed what Coleen was trying to sell you that people were there to support an increase? Come on, you're better than that!
You can bet that I will be doing my part to hold the Mesa elected officials accountable for this increase, and I will do a whole lot more than by merely voting. I will work to see more representatives who are fiscally responsible sit on that board.
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