Water Discount to Senior and Disabled Citizens
posted by Allen Barrett | 10:20 PM
Giles Free Speech Zone
The purpose of the "Giles Free Speech Zone" is to identify problems of concern to the people of Giles County, to discuss them in a gentlemanly and civil manner, while referring to the facts and giving evidence to back up whatever claims are made, making logical arguments that avoid any use of fallacy, and, hopefully, to come together in agreement, and find a positive solution to the problem at hand. Help make a difference! Email "mcpeters@usit.net" to suggest topics or make private comments.
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- Resignation of County Commissioners as Topic
29 Comments:
I am a senior citizen and live alone. My water bill usually ran around 7 dollars. Then when the city council lowered the minimum gallons amount and raised increased the rate my water bill went to a little over 13 dollars. Adding sewer to that and I am now paying a bit over 30 dollars a month. I don't cook much and only wash clothes once a month. I do water a few flowers in the summer. I wonder how other senior citizens who use more water than I do make ends meet. Any break the city could give us would be appreciated very much. When you live on a fixed income an extra 10 or 15 dollars goes a long way.
Sorry. I meant to say I only wash clothes once a week.
It seems to me that after the 140% increase in the rates a paltry 20% discount to a handful of people would certainly not break the city and while it isn't much just a few dollars is a lot to someone who doesn't have it. Almost a million and a half dollars more each year coming into the city fund but a few thousand can’t be given to some of the most deserving? Why isn’t the mayor and city administrator taking the lead in this matter instead of dragging their feet in resistance? Do they really feel the rates aren’t too high? Do they really feel that a few extra dollars wouldn’t make any difference to those who are on fixed incomes?
Allen Barrett
wab...
Why must you go negative on this? Why do you have to accuse the city and county mayors of "dragging their feet in resistance"?
I was watching American Idol last night and thought of you. You are the Simon Cowell of this blog. What an honor!
I accused them of dragging their feet because this was a matter that was suggested even before the 140% rate increase was approved. They have had many months to do something and they have done nothing. By the way I don't watch American Idol, that may be why I seem able to do more things in a shorter period of time. Allen Barrett
wab..
Maybe you SHOULD watch American Idol and then you might understand my comparison of you to Simon.
Just because they have not told you anything about what has been planned or discussed doesn't mean they are "dragging their feet in resistance". I think the operative word there would be resistance. You do NOT know that, so it is not good "reporting" to make such an unfounded charge, is it?
The rate was established based on financial analysis of what is required to keep a good operating utility system. If they were to discount the "handful" of people, then the rest of us would have to make up the difference with even higher bills.
If the elderly and disabled get a discount, then why shouldn't other low income families get the same discount? All the people getting laid-off at Intermet should get a discount too because they are losing their job? I know this is a stretch and I'm not heartless thinking it's not tough on the elderly and disabled either. My point is that it is very hard to draw a line in the sand saying some deserve a discount and others don't. Just something to think about.
To the anonymous of the 4:42 post.
I couldn't care less about watching American Idol and even less about your comparison of me to anyone.
The feet dragging comment is not a result of me not knowing what they are doing but from the fact I do know they have done nothing.
To anonymous of the 5:48 post.
You state "The rate was established based on financial analysis of what is required to keep a good operating utility system. If they were to discount the "handful" of people, then the rest of us would have to make up the difference with even higher bills".
The rate was actually established based on the desire to build a new waste water treatment plant instead of a simple lagoon. So they created a 140% increase which brings in $120,000 a month, based on numbers discussed at the last work session, more than before the increase. That's over a million four hundred thousand dollars each year, more than before the increase. That's more than the payments on the waste water treatment plant.
Now consider that the city sells up to 250,000 gallons of water for ten dollars to water soccer fields each month. Each month the school system gets a huge discount on water for football fields. Instead of giving a discount to those in a greater need costing everyone else more the full amount could be absorbed into a more appropriate charge for watering soccer fields and they would still get a major discount.
I certainly understand the financial difficulty some are going through, that's why I was yelling so much when the increase went into effect but no one seemed interested, so if there was a discount across the board the water department would still function and the mortgage would still be paid. And the burden of water and sewage bills would be lessened. Allen Barrett
wab..
Just because they don't call you in one everything doesn't mean that nothing is being done. How arrogant is that? Of course, you would say none. Furthermore, could it be that they do not have the same view as you do? Does that make them wrong or somehow dishonest? Of course not. Could we agree on that much?
As for American Idol, I had to rethink what I said about your being the Simon Cowell of this blog. You ARE the American Idol (in your own mind), so why waste time watching an otherwise pointless show?
You need to rethink a lot of what you say. You don't want to discuss the topics, all you want to do is talk about Mr. Barrett.
Sounds like someone with city government is trying to set up and play defense already. They said "based on a financial analysis of what is required to keep a good operating utility system". Why won't somebody answer some simple questions? Is the rate needed to keep a good operating utility system or to provide other things? The newspaper reports the city council is spending the heck out of money lately although I remember them saying they had a tight budget last year. When does the budget year end? It sure seems they have some extra money. Who did the analysis? Where is the figures that show how much is spent on the utility system and how much is being banked as overage? You say that others will have to make up the difference with even highter bills. Can you not read? It says the rate increase is already bringing in over a MILLION per year. Exactly where is that million being spent? What would the difference be that you say others would have to make up? Or do you just want to hold on to your million and not lend those who really need it a hand? Maybe you should live on social security one month and you would see what an extra 10 or 15 dollars would mean. It's obvious that Pulaski is not seeing any growth. Factories are shutting down. Maybe you are on city council and part of the problem of putting the expense of living here out of the reach of normal people. Are you? Are you trying to justify the rate increase you voted in? Or are you someone who works for the city trying to justify the analysis you did? How about some answers.
I agree with 8:58. Seems someone in the city is trying awfully hard to convince us his "anaylsis" was justified.
I'll gladly stop taking "Simon" to task if he will stop with his name-calling and accusations. He too needs to stick to the "facts" and not resort to belittling those who have a different view.
Here's a news flash for the reporter. I have no connection with the city.
I agree with the others. Can't believe you just came up with the thought that it was based on a financial analysis of what is required to keep a good operating utility system. That's a little far fetched for me to believe partner. I can't figure out why it bothers folks that Mr. Barrett simply reports what he hears at meetings he takes the time to attend. Seems you would want to know or else choose to remain ignorant. Realize to some folks ignorance is bliss. You? Course you could take the time to go to these meetings and you would hear it firsthand. Then maybe you are at the meetings and don't want the rest of us to know what is said and going on. Is that it? Is that why you take so much of your time to throw the constant smoke screen ranting about wab's arrogance and ego? Is it your plan that your continual writing about that will keep the rest of us from reading? Won't happen. We just skim over your some old tired dialogue. Let's talk topics and stop with the personal attacks cause it ain't working and sure is getting old!
anonymous..
Let me explain this to you one more time. The issue is NOT with your hero's facts and findings. It is in the way he relates to people who do not share his views. It has nothing to do with his "truths". I cannot understand why THAT is so difficult for you to understand.
2:58 I find it hard to believe that you seem to have so little understanding of what you are actually doing. I read on here somewhere else where someone said to you that you are actually doing the very things you are accusing wab of being and doing. Don't you understand that referring to him as Simon and hero are no different than your criticism of him calling someone a name. Truth is I have read far more times where you are calling him names than where he is calling anyone else a name. Man you need to take a look at yourself.
anonymous...
Listen, I was comparing wab to Simon, ok? That is NOT the same as calling him Simon or calling someone a crook, a liar, a buffoon, and etc. I never called him a hero; I said he was your hero. Do you see the difference? I don't want to split hair with you over semantics. As I said, when he stops with the inflammatory talk, I will stop pointing it out. And, as I said, he has slowed down on the rhetoric, so there's hope.
I don't think there is much hope for you.
Perhaps the "man" is a woman. I think I'm getting close to figuring it out.
437 no you aren't attached to the city - you're a board head member in more ways than one - obviousl a person of no faith whatsoever.
anonymous..
Have faith; wab and his followers are getting better. And I'm neither a "board head" or a boar's head.
What are you getting close to figuring out? Would you be so angry with me if I worshipped at the same shrine as you do?
How dare you to say I have no faith! I have faith in the Almighty God and believe there is more goodness in mankind than evil and corruption. Oh, but that makes me ignorant and naive, right?Furthermore, I worship at a church where the Holy Spirit does have a presence, contrary to the demeaning remark made recently.
news went aronud town long time back about the female who regularly bashes WAB here.
She as even bragged to some about her post. Be careful or you won't have to keep being anonymous your big mouth will "out" you eventually.
Or are you woman enough to go on and put your name to your post or just keep bragging about it thinking us common little people don't listen???
Incredible. It must be mental telepathy. But you are wrong. There are lots of us who see what your hero is doing as wrong to the core. And I am not talking about his "truths". I am, once again, trying to get you to understand that it's his way of talking to people who disagree with him. Apparently, that's a hard one to comprehend. But, I think you know perfectly well that what I'm saying is true.
I thought this site was about water to Senior Citizen and Disable Citizens.
Dear all,
I posted the Wednesday, February 20, 2008 5:48:00 PM comment. Thanks wab for your response. It's nice to get some actual "debate" on here rather than just bickering as seems to usually go on. No, I'm not with the City in any way. (To answer a few posts after mine.) And yes, I agree with wab's response that I don't think the schools or parks should get any discount on their watering. Especially on ball fields. Kids can play ball on dry brown grass just as well as they can green grass. So if the school system can't afford their water bill, then cut out the amount of water they use. A little common sense would go a long way.
But also, wab I think you are partially right on your comment about using the money to pay for the wastewater plant. Pulaski has a water and wastewater system. The money from one system can be used for the other system. There are lots of things that go on within both systems that I'm sure most people would never think about that costs a lot of money. Plus, I would bet (just guessing, I don't know for sure) that the City has quite a bit of debt that they have to pay interest on for different things like building the wastewater plant. I would think the financial analysis that was done to establish the rates would be open to the public. Or at least the City's budget so we can all see just how much money is spent annually and what it is spent on.
Just something to think about.
I don't neccesarily agree with or even like Mr. Barrett but I can say that I agree with the fact that it is utterly ridiculous thta we give 250,000 gallons of water away for $10 and then increase the rates for the rest of the city and the voters for a tax increase to fix the stadium. heres an idea why don't you take the ballfields allowance away , make them pay for the water they use and then use that income to fix the stadium ?
I guess my problem with the ballfield discount is that no income comes in to the city from the use of the fields by the various teams. the boosters get the money from the concessions and the gates and then they pay for the football team to eat out the night of the game. Why don't we charge for the use of the field ? A nominal fee would not hurt anyone of the groups that benefit from the use.
Back to the water thing -- why exactly were the ballfields singled out to get the huge cut in water ? If it is because they help the youth so much then why not give the same discount to churches, the boys and girls club and the senior citizens center ?
Think about it folks, if the ballfields have to pay bigger water bill where do you think that money to pay for it comes from. Taxes. They would have to have more money to pay water bills. Catch 22!
And what is wrong with those who use the ballfields paying for the water?
Why should someone who can hardly walk pay so ballfields can be over watered just to look good?
It's become very obvious that the citizens of Pulaski have been lied to once again. It seems that all the water rate increase that was to pay off the loan on the new construction that wasn't actually needed to begin with has become the city cash cow and now is being raided to pay for every conceivable item on a long wish list.
There will be no senior discount because there is only one person on the city council who has even been interested enough to add up the numbers in an effort to provide a discount. Mrs Harwell has done all she can but with a lack of interest from both citizens and council the possibility is about gone. Allen Barrett
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