Citizens speak out against sewerage rate hikes
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
The Hillsboro City Council Utility Committee met in an abbreviated session Tuesday, Aug. 23, prior to a town hall meeting held in the Highland County Administration Building conference room.
During the utilities committee meeting, committee members approved a request for annexation of water service along U.S. Route 50 east for property across from the Greystone Motel.
Committee member Bonnie Parr made a motion to allow the extension, and committee chairman David Shoemaker seconded the motion, after which Shoemaker advised Hillsboro Safety Service Director Ralph Holt to inform the property owner of the committee's decision.
Residents voice concerns at town hall meeting
Following the committee meeting, city administrators held a town hall meeting to discuss a proposed resolution that would increase sewerage rates by 15 percent over three years.
Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink welcomed those in attendance and thanked local residents for participating in the meeting.
Zink also introduced candidates for mayor Drew Hastings and John Levo, both of whom were in attendance.
"I appreciate all of you being here," Shoemaker said. "I just wish you'd come to some council meetings. Some of this is going to be redundant, going back to 2007-08."
Shoemaker outlined the procedures for the town hall meeting, and informed citizens: "We will present our information to you and then (entertain) questions. If I find a question is redundant, I will say it is redundant and we will move to the next question. We're not here to debate, we're here to receive information. If we don't have an answer for your question, write it down and within 10 days we will respond in writing."
Shoemaker then turned the meeting over to Kirby Ellison of the Hillsboro mayor's office. Ellison provided background information dating back to 2003-04 on problems with the Hillsboro sewerage system, including overflows, EPA permits, grants, engineering, planning and development, and new construction.
Ellison provided details on the costs to the city and EPA mandates, ranging from the south lift station overflows to partially treated sewerage floating into Clear Creek on the north side of town.
Ellison touched on the Save the Lake lawsuit, which claimed the city had contaminated Rocky Fork Lake, which Ellison stated was never proved in court. Ellison talked about numerous meetings with the Ohio EPA, Ohio Publics Works, and RCAP (Rural Community Assistance Program, Inc.). She referenced violations at the south lift stations during heavy rain events and treatment issues at the Liberty Park station.
In addition, she provided a history of the city sewerage system dating back to 1936 and the Works Progress Act. Ellison concluded by referencing a $10 million loan the city must repay over a 20-year period.
"The utilities committee has had 14 or 15 meetings back to 2007," Shoemaker said. "We looked through the cameras that they placed in the sewer lines; we saw the cracks in the lines and places where the lines were deteriorating. We have had meetings here in this very room where only two people showed up."
Shoemaker then recapped committee meetings over the last four years until shortly after 7 p.m., when Hastings asked, "Is this a good juncture to stop and look at where we've come?"
"You can keep feeding us numbers all night long," Hastings said.
"Let me finish," Shoemaker said. The council member continued with additional documentation and said, "The number-one priority right now has to fund our debt service (loan)."
Shoemaker thanked those in attendance for bearing with him and offered handouts to his statistical information.
At 7:10 p.m., the committee accepted questions from the audience.
Hastings asked the first question. "I don't know how many people I speak for," Hastings said, "but it seems it's not city council that's running this, it's the EPA. It seems you blindly follow the EPA. Who funds RCAP?" Hastings asked.
"The EPA," he said. "RCAP is the arm of thug enforcement (of the EPA)," Hastings said. "You based this on recommendations of RCAP. You can never satisfy the EPA. They raise the bar and raise the bar and raise the bar. The city officials listened to these mandates and blindly follow them."
"The EPA is going to spit out compliances and mandates all day long, when it's the taxpayers who have to deal with it. The EPA never said 'you have to do this, or you won't have a toilet,'" Hastings said.
Shoemaker responded, "You know what they do, Drew? They fine you. Do you want (the city) to pay that fine?"
"RCAP would not exist without the EPA," Hastings said.
Holt later asked Hastings, "Drew, tell me what you know about RCAP."
Hastings responded, "You don't have to get in my face."
Shoemaker then said, "Drew, you are getting out of order. Try to keep it civil."
Shoemaker went on to explain that the city had previously frozen sewer rates and are paying for it now.
Several residents questioned the committee about possible budget cuts to offset the 15-percent increase in sewerage service over the next three years. Hillsboro resident Christine Kerley, who previously told council that based on statistical data, in 2010 the average family will pay more in water and sewer services than they will pay in city taxes, also addressed the committee.
"My suggestion is we look for additional grants and reductions in expenses," she said. "Is there any way we can look at cutting our budget first?" Kerley asked.
"I don't want to pay $116 just in sewer rates in three years. That's more than I pay to heat my house. Is there a way to trim this down by cutting expenses?"
Ellison said she has spoken to several agencies regarding grant monies. "They're like, the project's started, there's no money," Ellison said.
Former Highland County Commissioner Russ Newman attempted to put the matter into governmental perspective.
"Drew is absolutely right with the EPA, (but) these people (council) have worked hard to put the plant together. This project is done. The money is set. Anything new – yes, they'll look for more money," Newman said.
"How many times did Dave (Shoemaker) say tonight: 'We've stopped the increases?' RCAP is not the bad guy. They've worked with us," Newman said.
"I said this years ago: If we raise our rates like we should, this town will dry up and blow away. Five percent may be reasonable, and you people may be happy that it's just five percent."
Shoemaker encouraged anyone with additional questions to submit them in writing to the utilities committee and he would try his best to answer them.[[In-content Ad]]
During the utilities committee meeting, committee members approved a request for annexation of water service along U.S. Route 50 east for property across from the Greystone Motel.
Committee member Bonnie Parr made a motion to allow the extension, and committee chairman David Shoemaker seconded the motion, after which Shoemaker advised Hillsboro Safety Service Director Ralph Holt to inform the property owner of the committee's decision.
Residents voice concerns at town hall meeting
Following the committee meeting, city administrators held a town hall meeting to discuss a proposed resolution that would increase sewerage rates by 15 percent over three years.
Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink welcomed those in attendance and thanked local residents for participating in the meeting.
Zink also introduced candidates for mayor Drew Hastings and John Levo, both of whom were in attendance.
"I appreciate all of you being here," Shoemaker said. "I just wish you'd come to some council meetings. Some of this is going to be redundant, going back to 2007-08."
Shoemaker outlined the procedures for the town hall meeting, and informed citizens: "We will present our information to you and then (entertain) questions. If I find a question is redundant, I will say it is redundant and we will move to the next question. We're not here to debate, we're here to receive information. If we don't have an answer for your question, write it down and within 10 days we will respond in writing."
Shoemaker then turned the meeting over to Kirby Ellison of the Hillsboro mayor's office. Ellison provided background information dating back to 2003-04 on problems with the Hillsboro sewerage system, including overflows, EPA permits, grants, engineering, planning and development, and new construction.
Ellison provided details on the costs to the city and EPA mandates, ranging from the south lift station overflows to partially treated sewerage floating into Clear Creek on the north side of town.
Ellison touched on the Save the Lake lawsuit, which claimed the city had contaminated Rocky Fork Lake, which Ellison stated was never proved in court. Ellison talked about numerous meetings with the Ohio EPA, Ohio Publics Works, and RCAP (Rural Community Assistance Program, Inc.). She referenced violations at the south lift stations during heavy rain events and treatment issues at the Liberty Park station.
In addition, she provided a history of the city sewerage system dating back to 1936 and the Works Progress Act. Ellison concluded by referencing a $10 million loan the city must repay over a 20-year period.
"The utilities committee has had 14 or 15 meetings back to 2007," Shoemaker said. "We looked through the cameras that they placed in the sewer lines; we saw the cracks in the lines and places where the lines were deteriorating. We have had meetings here in this very room where only two people showed up."
Shoemaker then recapped committee meetings over the last four years until shortly after 7 p.m., when Hastings asked, "Is this a good juncture to stop and look at where we've come?"
"You can keep feeding us numbers all night long," Hastings said.
"Let me finish," Shoemaker said. The council member continued with additional documentation and said, "The number-one priority right now has to fund our debt service (loan)."
Shoemaker thanked those in attendance for bearing with him and offered handouts to his statistical information.
At 7:10 p.m., the committee accepted questions from the audience.
Hastings asked the first question. "I don't know how many people I speak for," Hastings said, "but it seems it's not city council that's running this, it's the EPA. It seems you blindly follow the EPA. Who funds RCAP?" Hastings asked.
"The EPA," he said. "RCAP is the arm of thug enforcement (of the EPA)," Hastings said. "You based this on recommendations of RCAP. You can never satisfy the EPA. They raise the bar and raise the bar and raise the bar. The city officials listened to these mandates and blindly follow them."
"The EPA is going to spit out compliances and mandates all day long, when it's the taxpayers who have to deal with it. The EPA never said 'you have to do this, or you won't have a toilet,'" Hastings said.
Shoemaker responded, "You know what they do, Drew? They fine you. Do you want (the city) to pay that fine?"
"RCAP would not exist without the EPA," Hastings said.
Holt later asked Hastings, "Drew, tell me what you know about RCAP."
Hastings responded, "You don't have to get in my face."
Shoemaker then said, "Drew, you are getting out of order. Try to keep it civil."
Shoemaker went on to explain that the city had previously frozen sewer rates and are paying for it now.
Several residents questioned the committee about possible budget cuts to offset the 15-percent increase in sewerage service over the next three years. Hillsboro resident Christine Kerley, who previously told council that based on statistical data, in 2010 the average family will pay more in water and sewer services than they will pay in city taxes, also addressed the committee.
"My suggestion is we look for additional grants and reductions in expenses," she said. "Is there any way we can look at cutting our budget first?" Kerley asked.
"I don't want to pay $116 just in sewer rates in three years. That's more than I pay to heat my house. Is there a way to trim this down by cutting expenses?"
Ellison said she has spoken to several agencies regarding grant monies. "They're like, the project's started, there's no money," Ellison said.
Former Highland County Commissioner Russ Newman attempted to put the matter into governmental perspective.
"Drew is absolutely right with the EPA, (but) these people (council) have worked hard to put the plant together. This project is done. The money is set. Anything new – yes, they'll look for more money," Newman said.
"How many times did Dave (Shoemaker) say tonight: 'We've stopped the increases?' RCAP is not the bad guy. They've worked with us," Newman said.
"I said this years ago: If we raise our rates like we should, this town will dry up and blow away. Five percent may be reasonable, and you people may be happy that it's just five percent."
Shoemaker encouraged anyone with additional questions to submit them in writing to the utilities committee and he would try his best to answer them.[[In-content Ad]]