A missed opportunity but one that can still be corrected

Public’s right to see …

Monday night the City of Kennedale?s Citizen Water Rate Committee missed an opportunity to show that the controversial water/sewer rate issue that has been dominating city hall for seven months is an open and transparent process. {{more: Read more …}}

The Water Rate Committee was appointed by the Mayor in July after the outcry about the new water and sewer rates had thwarted any other issue before the council. A dramatic increase in the rates had been approved in January of this year after a study showed the city had drained its water/sewer funds as a result of unexpected major repairs and that the city had an inadequate way of rebuilding those funds.

 

the outcry was loud and long …

In a rare miscalculation of public sentiment, the City Council voted to raise both the water and sewer rates with a hefty increase in the base rate with the argument that the base rate should be enough to keep the water department operating in low use times i.e. winter and wet conditions. The outcry, after the bills starting rolling out to the citizens, has been both loud and long. It was enough in the end to elicit a mea culpa by the full city council.

Crowd numbers kept growing at city council meetings in protest of the new rates

At the August meeting, the Mayor, saying that ?We can be wrong,? agreed to place on this month?s agenda an action item for the full repeal of the ordinance that set up the new rates. Also on the agenda is expected a consideration of other options. The other options are those that are now being considered by the Water Rate Committee. Read more @ Council backs down

A public meeting called by the Water Rate Committee was held last night with 50+ in attendance. It was a way to get public input into the process and for the committee to show what they have been considering. It was a good presentation and Committee Chairperson Ernest Harvey announced that it included things that maybe in the final draft. The committee was to have a final meeting today and then make a presentation to the city council next Monday at the regular council meeting. Find out more

 

When the Kennedale News asked if this draft copy could be posted on the city website the answer was a swift no with no real discussion. It is true that this was just a draft proposal but the issue is three-fold.

 

First, the Kennedale Council had been repeated accused of secrecy on this whole matter and does need to be seen as operating out in the open. Second, the committee presented the information in a public forum. It invited the public to the presentation. Once presented, it is public information and should be made available to all you could not attend. Third, it is an informative presentation that can prepare the public for the discussion at the upcoming council meeting.

 

In defense of the city …

In defense of the City, the Kennedale News challenges anyone to find a city government that provides anymore information to the public than the City of Kennedale. It has won awards because of its openness and transparency.

 

In the case of the water issue, there were some extenuating circumstances involved in this particular issue that kept it in the realm of omission but not deliberately done. The city has a small staff as would be expected of a city this size and often the positions are combined duty jobs. Such is position of the Kennedale City Secretary/Communications Coordinator. Leslie Galloway was brand new to the job when the water issue was just beginning to be discussed last fall. For her, it was learning on the run in both positions. Complicating the matter for city communications, was the fact that Kennedale?s new utility billing company, did not allow the city to include the monthly newsletter in their billing statements as Kennedale had being doing for years. The cost to mail these newsletters for the City would be in the thousands and as a cost cutting measure had not been included in the new city budget. Galloway was left to find new and diverse ways to communicate to the public. Galloway is now attempting to communicate over multi-platforms and has even set up a communication committee to provide feedback and suggestions at ways to communicate city news better. Find out more

 

find nowhere that there was deliberate attempt …

During this time period, the Kennedale News can find nowhere was there a deliberate attempt to hide or mislead anyone over this issue either by the city council or by city staff.

But once trust is lost for whatever reason, it is hard to regain. The simple act of posting the draft proposal by the water rate commission on the city website is just one small thing but it is a positive step in the right direction. The draft is informative and provides a chance for the public to be a little more educated on the subject before a decision is made.

 

Post it.