Water rate issue continues to roil city council meetings

Charge forward, retrench or wave the white flag seem to be the options before the council.

For the third straight month the increase in water/sewer rates this past April has become the dominate issue of the Kennedale City Council meetings and it is not cheering that the council is hearing. {{more:[Full story]}}

 

shows no indication of going away anytime soon …

Last night in the Kennedale City Council Chambers with a storm brewing inside and outside, speaker after speaker rose to express their shock and dismay at the bills that they are now receiving, many saying that they have nearly doubled. And, many voiced anger at the city leadership because they feel that their trust has been betrayed.

There were three speakers in the crowd of 50 plus who rose to provide a defense of the council members and the city. They praised the courage it took to make an obliviously difficult decision and the need to take action to put the water/sewer system on stable and sound footing.

 

a tough sale in this frustrated and vocal crowd …

City leaders have mounted a vigorous information campaign led by Mayor Brian Johnson that has tried to convinced citizens of the need for this dramatic rise in rates.

 

The campaign has included speaking at neighborhood associations and to small groups in individual homes throughout the city plus hosting a town meeting, putting together a podcast – Mayor?s

Podcast: Water Rate Increase discussing the rate increase and posting a Water

Rate Increase Fact Sheet on the city website.

Those in opposition have been busy circulating a petition for the complete removal of the new rate system and a return to the older model. Petition organizers did not present the petition last night but did say they had over 600 signature with at least half of those easily verifiable.

 

The old water rate model relied on user fees to maintain the funds needed to operate the water department with just a small base rate that was paid by every user. The new system set a much higher base rate that would consistently supply the funds needed to operate the system even in times of low usage i.e. winter and long rainy periods.

arguement against …

 

The argument against was that the amount was disproportionate and placed an unfair burden on those who had smaller homes, lived alone or use only small amounts of water. It also placed an undue burden on those who could least afford it i.e. the poor and elderly on fixed incomes.

 

arguement for …

 

The argument for the increase, made by the city and those who served on the citizen review committee that made the recommendation, was that the increased based rate would be paid equally by all users and would provide a steady flow of funds that would allow for badly needed systematic upgrades as well as the daily, monthly and yearly preventive maintenance operations. It would also keep the system operating on a sound financial basis for years to come. (The city plan did provide some relief for the over 65 with income under a fixed amount).

 

appeal to find a good faith solution …

Nearly all the speakers closed with an appeal to work the issue out and most appealed to the better nature of those involved. There were some, in their anger and frustration, that spoke of mismanagement, of abuse of power, of dishonesty and deliberate deception. But, they were reminded that those on the council and those on the citizen committee were also friends and neighbors who gave freely of their time and energy to work for the city and all citizens. And, that they could in no way benefit or would have deliberate sought out the notoriety that this issue has provided.

 

what happens now?

Kennedale has changed for the better especially over the last decade. Kennedale is no longer known as that little place that has the sex businesses. There is definitely a town center that is more than a post office and a school building. You can argue that Kennedale has returned to the community pride of yesteryear. There are new and striving businesses and new families moving in to the city. There is an overall stronger sense of community.

a bridge too far?

 

The city council had taken a giant leap of faith here, hoping that the citizens will understand and follow. But, maybe this one is a bridge too far or an overreach doom to fail.

Is it time for the city leaders to dig in and hold the line or is it time to retrench i.e. change the way things are done in order to cut losses or to simply wave the white flag and surrender?

After last evening, it does not seem the issue is going

quietly into the night.

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