2 August 2007 DCRSD Meeting Notes
Submitted by Ralph Thompson
Commissioner District 3:
The following notes are provided in an effort to record the transactions of the meeting without editorial comment, except clarification of events. Copies of documents presented in meeting and the claims were requested in writing from Secretary, Benning, so they could be attached. She indicated she did not have authorization to release them and request was forwarded to Hankins with no response thus far. Note: Benning is a former Commissioner and should know that public documents are available to any Citizen upon request.
2 August 2007
DCRSD Meeting Notes
Present: Chairman, Hankins, Pruss, Dennerline, Maxwell and Fehrman Adams and Enzweiler were not present.
Also Present: Doug Baer, Executive Secretary; Quinn, Quinn Engineering; Benning (VB), Secretary; Frank Kramer (FK), Board Attorney; Robert Hrezo, Hrezo Engineering; 8 others and Ralph Thompson.
Meeting started at approximately 7:00 PM in the Commissioner's Meeting Room. Meeting was not recorded.
Meeting Notes
Meeting Notes for July 17, 2007: Maxwell said had discussed an RFP process for the West Aurora project. Hankins indicated in previous meeting (where Maxwell was not present) Board decided to move forward with Quinn Engineering. Pruss moved and Dennerline seconded, approved.
Treasurer's ReportNothing new to report.
Special Requests
A Proposed Timetable for the Purchase of a Privately-Owned Utility was presented to the Board by unidentified individual (was in discussion with Hankins before meeting), to proceed with merger (for the acquisition of VRUC by DCRSD). Hankins indicated it was to be left with the Board for next meeting.
Serenity RidgeHave estimates for main line, hardware and engineering costs. Have two responses so far for service.
Baer: $77,000 should be the project cost. Will there be 11 houses or all to divide the cost? Statute says everyone gets a letter to participate to "jump start" the Health Department. All would provide a prorated amount of $4,800, with 60 days to respond.
Kramer: First have to decide whether to proceed with the project.
Baer: Then the letters go out. If 11 participate, cost is $7,000 each, if all $4,200 to $4,500. Don't know what funds.
Kramer: DCRSD cannot let contract without funds. Invite the residents to advance funds.
Baer: Then we can send letters to force people on. If one then $77,000, if 2 then $37,500, etc.
Hankins: Assume 11 or 12 Owners are willing to participate. Can collect the money and put it into an account.
Fehrman: Can lots be approved for septic?
Baer: Very expensive, $20,000 versus sewer, less than half.
Fehrman: Send letter to everyone delineating costs.
Baer: A letter has already gone out. Have not reviewed existing systems. Health Dept. (Baer) will review after. Homeowners should know projected costs. There are 19 buildable lots. Mainline costs include hardware estimates. If 11 are willing should we collect the money? Need a statement of commitment.
Kramer: Collect the money and deposit it. Then the money will be in.
Hankins: Need documented commitment to determine amount.
Baer: If you force people on later?
Kramer: Can't proceed without the money in the bank.
Hankins: How to determine amount of check with multiple people to divide. Have to craft letter for initial participation.
Several people talking at once. Tried to get as much of what was said as possible.
Resident from audience: The compel letter goes out, then the money?
Baer: No. If 11 people now and more later?
Hankins: Prorata rebate later.
Dennerline: In due time.
Hankins: No. Never done in the County before.
Resident from audience: What is check (amount)?
Hankins:Don't know.
Resident from audience: If we write the check for $11,000 and all don't participate, will need more?
Dennerline: Send out a contract to sign and notarize.
_______: Lady there says she doesn't have the money. Can we have a letter from the bank, if they are going to borrow?
Dennerline: Have Kramer write out a simple letter to commit and submit the money by a certain date. Plain old simple contract to commit.
Baer: Need deadline.
Hankins: Send out letter and require response in 14 days.
Dennerline: If only 2 or 3 it's over. Make check out to "DCRSD Serenity Ridge". Scale by commitment.
Resident from audience: With commitment can you notify people of the amount?
Hankins: Send tabular table of costs.
Kramer: After two weeks, notify of the amount.
Moved and seconded to send the letter.
Resident from audience: Then letter to compel can go as soon as money is in the bank?
Maxwell: Is $55,000 engineering estimate? LMH will charge wholesale rate. No tie-in charge.
Hankins: Have letter from LMH- not signed.
Motion approved.
West Aurora Project
At last meeting, had discussion to move forward with engineering and permitting. Didn't have funds. Council released $116,000. Can proceed with design and permits; but, don't have the money to build yet. Haven't received appraisal on property at Walston.
Quinn: Talked to State Revolving Fund for loan at 3.2%. Can cover engineering costs.
Quinn switched to Cole Lane and Stewart Road: Talked to Randy Turner. 28 have signed up. More than half. Don't know breakdown.
_______: Three did it on their own, five hired other, twenty paid.
Quinn: 19 remain.
Quinn back to West Aurora project: The application (for loan) doesn't commit. They (State Revolving Fund) will only come down during the day. Can file on whole project expense. 20 year life.
Several talking.
Hankins: Rural development is quirky. Want to see both owning and maintenance.
Quinn: No such thing as an easy easement, unless you are doing Rodney.
Dennerline: Approach about Right of Way.
Hankins: Agreeable as long as restored.
Dennerline: Did it include excavation?
Quinn: Excavation; but, not leveling ground. Hankins has to sign it. Will give it to Vera. Won't be around for next meeting, going on vacation.
Discussion on his vacation.
Claims Claim for Kramer. Dennerline moved to pay claims, Maxwell seconded. Approved.
West Aurora Project
Baer presented spreadsheet for debt service and cost for Higridge. "Will be difficult to do in a fashion affordable to everyone."
SDRSD
Received a response from Zerbe for SDRSD.
Benning: Looking into funding avenues, State Revolving Fund. Shelly Love wants form filled out for application. Bunker Hill example has 2.9% rate.
Person in audience: Anything we can do to help.
Dennerline: Move to adjourn.
Maxwell: What appears to be fighting with Greendale and SDRSD bothers him. Also some of the work on Cole Lane. Want to talk in executive session to discuss Greendale & SDRSD and Cole Lane. What's the procedure.
Kramer: Must have 48 hours notice. There are two pages of what can be discussed in executive session.
Hankins: Be glad to discuss. Like to move on in peace. Attempts to change way things are done have not been successful. There's ill will on the part of Mayor and SDRSD. Need to concentrate on West Aurora & Serenity Ridge. Have been pushed along path by elected officials and created ill will, when one is restrained on the part of others. It is inevitable to work toward county wide sewers. Don't see real good chances for reconciliation in the short run.
Maxwell: The idea of participation in SDRSD had understandable value. County would buy into and participate. SDRSD didn't want that to happen - Greendale.
Hankins: (Maxwell) Explained it well. When new things come to happen there's anger, then regret. The acquisition of HVL has led to inflammation. Doesn't seem to be on the table in a way to be talked about. If movement on HVL acquisition into DCRSD is not welcome. If HVL is paying $2.18 per thousand, that's great.
As all relates to Greendale & SDRSD and us, we don't know about LMH, need discussion. Need to step back from all area around perimeter temporarily, till discussion on how we can serve the County, it's highly counter productive.
Asked Stan Beeler (VRUC Board member) how things are coming.
Beeler: VRUC turned down contract 4 to 2.
Fehrman: Can you shed any light on that?
Beeler: Not sure of story. Three are in favor, four voted not to sign up - using DCRSD as white knight to come and bail them out.
Hankins: New contract for 30 years for sewer and water at rate. DCRSD could only hope to provide sewer.
Kramer: Need 48 hours, Maxwell needs to relay concerns to Hankins and if it falls into the standards it can be scheduled.
Hankins: It does fall into the standards. Need to set a date for executive session.
Maxwell: Can it be before or after the next session?
Hankins: OK. Intended to suggest since projects are limited, we don't need to meet every other week. Suggest we eliminate the third Thursday meeting till further notice.
Moved to eliminate, Fehrman, seconded Pruss. Question asked if notice needs to be given, Kramer to check. Approved.
Executive session set for third Thursday in August in lieu of regular meeting.
Dennerline asked if they could discuss St. Leon and HVL there. Hankins indicated contract could be discussed.
Dennerline: $2.18 is a fantastic rate. DCRSD would be 5 or 6 times that and no water.
Beeler: Don't feel contract would be _______. Talking at same time, missed it.
Dennerline: ________ go away from HVL. If some metro sewer district fine! Gotten thrown into this. Shouldn't be a political football. The $4.5 million is for St. Leon, not for HVL. Never understood this! Based on current understanding, recommend VRUC proceed with Greendale. Greendale has given best possible deal he can imagine with water & sewer. If DCRSD, at last three or four times, DCRSD doesn't belong there and can't handle it.
Fehrman: $2.18 is a great rate, what is the heart burn?
Maria La Rosa in audience: Had to do with a 180 day clause to get out of the contract, if DCRSD could provide, per Mr. Bittner.
Maxwell said he will get on the phone with Bittner from his own perspective.
Hankins said he will call Hensley, Spyniewski and Arbrecht.
Maria Larosa indicated the contract would give a start to fix the infrastructure.
Dennerline: move to adjourn.
Hrezo: Has the construction report on Cole Lane and Stewart Road based on his inspection.
Directed to give it to Benning.
Moved to adjourn, Dennerline, seconded Pruss, adjourned.
Adjourned at approximately 9:00 PM.
The following was sublitted at the DCRSD meeting for their consideration:
DEARBORN COUNTY REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT
8/2/07
PROPOSED TIMETABLE FOR THE PURCHASE OF A PRIVATELY-OWNED UTILITY
Task/Activity listed first then the Primary Responsible Party
Already Done Letter of Intent/Memorandum of Understanding Client and
to transfer assets- Local Counsel
Due Diligence Phase:
Confidentiality agreement - Local Counsel
Evaluate condition and value of assets currently in place - Engineer
Outline improvements (if any) that are required - Engineer
Financial feasibility analysis - Umbaugh
Valuation analysis Engineers & Urnbaugh
Negotiate final terms with utility owners - Board, Counsel and Professionals
Execute purchase agreement - Client
File petition with IURC requesting approval - lURC Counsel
Petitioner's pre-file date- IURC Counsel,
Board and Professionals
Public (OUCC) pre-file date - N/A
Evidentiary hearing - Board and Professionals
Obtain IURC approving order* - IURC Counsel & All
Close on transaction - All
* In order to obtain Commission approval for the transfer of all assets, the IURC considers the following factors:
- whether or not the assets lie within an area in which the buyer is authorized to render services
- whether or not the buyer is prepared to render comparable sewage disposal service without loss of continuity of service
- whether or not the terms of the sale, assignment, lease, or transfer are reasonable
- whether the sale is in the public interest
However, once the commission has given its approval to such transaction and the ~ transaction itself is actually complete, the commission shall have no control over the utility service henceforth rendered by the district.
DRAFT
VALLEY RURAL UTILITIES, INC.
(Water)
OPERATING REVENUES AND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCEEXPENSES
(Per IURC Annual Reports)
Operating Revenues: Calendar Year
2005 listed first and 2006 listed 2nd
Residential metered sales $494,009 $488,122
Private fire protection 17,820 17,820
Forfeited discounts 3,693 3,864
Other revenues 68,969 65,350
Total Operating Revenues 584,491 575,156
Operation and Maintenance Expenses:
Salaries and wages 83,184 87,014
Employee pensions and benefits 17,686 22,538
Purchased water 120,448 131,339
Purchased power 16,490 15,701
Materials and supplies 11,325 10,194
Contractual services:
Accounting 4,994 4,579
Legal 156,954 20,003
Other 981 117
Rental of equipment 118
Transportation 5,304 3,368
Insurance:
Vehicle 7,893
General liability 1,061 8,387
Workman's compensation 1,256
Bad debt 2,400 2,400
Miscellaneous 97,370 26,388
Total Operation and Maintenance Expenses 526,208 333,284
Excess/(Shortfall) of Operating Revenues
over Operation and Maintenance Expenses $58,283 $241,872
DRAFT
VALLEY RURAL UTILITIES, INC.
(Wastewater)
OPERATING REVENUES AND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE EXPENSES
(Per lURC Annual Reports)
Operating Revenues: Calendar Year
2005 lsted first and 2006 listed 2nd
Residential revenue $815,331 $809,088
Forfeited discounts 4,873
Sale of sludge 5,055
Other revenues 39,094 36,991
Total Operating Revenues 859,298 851,134
Operation and Maintenance Expenses:
Salaries and wages 130,1 09 142,708
Employee pensions and benefits 27,664 35,250
Purchased wastewater treatment 295,384 384,495
Purchased power 30,675 37,445
Chemicals 17,179 10,583
Materials and supplies 10,664 13,040
Contractual services:
Engineering 5,307
Accounting 7,812 7,163
Legal 255,830 180,462
Other 14,680
Rental of equipment 84 323
Transportation 8,293 5,268
Insurance:
General liability 12,345 13,117
Workman's compensation 1,661 1,964
Bad debt 2,400 2,400
Miscellaneous 46,583 35,756
Total Operation and Maintenance Expenses 866,670 869,974
Excess/(Shortfall) of Operating Revenues
over Operation and Maintenance Expenses ($7,372) ($18,840)
DRAFT
LMH UTILITIES, INC.
CALENDAR YEAR 2005 OPERATING REVENUES
AND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE EXPENSES
(Per TIJRC Annual Report for year ended 12/31/05)
Operating Revenues:
Residential revenues $481,921
Commercial revenues 39,636
Industrial revenues 33,328
Total Operating Revenues 554,885
Operation and Maintenance Expenses:
Salaries and wages:
Employees 29,847
Officers, directors and majority shareholders 45,999
Employee pensions and benefits 15,453
Sludge removal 37,934
Purchased power 45,610
Fuel for power production 2,003
Chemicals 26,403
Materials and supplies 16.678
Contractual services:
Accounting 1,830
Legal 1,235
Other 200,816
Rental of building/real property 6,000
Transportation 649
Insurance:
General liability 11,856
Workman's compensation 688
Miscellaneous 1,359
Total Operation and Maintenance Expenses 444,360
Excess/(Shortfall) of Operating Revenues
over Operation and Maintenance Expenses $110,525
DRAFT
64 comments:
The DCRSD is acting like it is not in the last hours of life!
Greed is a leading cause of delusional mania!
No one is willing to fund their madness!
Their death rattle will shake the entire County after the next election cycle!
"Benning is a former Commissioner and should know that public documents are available to any Citizen upon request."
GEEEE!!!!
Benning running interference for her fellow crooks to keep the public from the public's business?
Benning is one old female dog that is incapable of learning new ethical tricks!!!
The folks in High Ridge Estates seem to have gotten no attention at all during this meeting!
It would seem in the DCRSD's quest to conquer the world, they forgot their original marching orders!
Such a glaring display of lack of discipline!
Baer: Then we can send letters to force people on.
Baer is just chomping at the bit to force our neighbors onto his sewers!
Was he jumping up in down like a child in a store wanting his mommy to buy him his favorite toy?
What sort of job security does Mr. Baer have?
VRUC'S legal expenses are almost 1/2 of their sewer and water purchases for 2005. 2003 and 2004 should be posted that's when Price was at his best.
I wonder what VRUC spent on infrostructure upgrades during 2003 to 2006? It would be a good comparison of the prudence of the "senior members" relator/developers mindset.
Hankins: "Prorata rebate later."
No ones is going to get any money back!
After everyone else is forced on these grinder pumps and pressurized lines, the real costs will be made apparent and everyone's rates will continue to rise!
Witness St. Leon!
Realtor/Developers will have no governor on their behavior and will put this sewer plant at over capacity as soon as they can build their subdivisions!
Then we will be told that are sewer system is in crisis and we need to add on or build another sewer plant!
And since "we are all in this together," we will be compelled to "take care" of our new neighbors!!!
* In order to obtain Commission approval for the transfer of all assets, the IURC considers the following factors:
- whether or not the assets lie within an area in which the buyer is authorized to render services
- whether or not the buyer is prepared to render comparable sewage disposal service without loss of continuity of service BANG!!!
- whether or not the terms of the sale, assignment, lease, or transfer are reasonable BANG!!!
- whether the sale is in the public interest BANG!!!
BANG!!! BANG!!! BANG!!!
THE DCRSD IS DEAD!!!
And the crazys have arived with the same old comments.
VRUC Wastewater costs:
Materials and supplies 10,664 13,040
Contractual services:
Engineering 5,307
Legal 255,830 180,462
That's very little to fix the infrastructure!!!!
But look at the legal costs!!!!
Shows where the Boards priority lies.
Where is the basis for the defense of the old board?
Hankins:
"Have been pushed along path by elected officials and created ill will, when one is restrained on the part of others. It is inevitable to work toward county wide sewers. Don't see real good chances for reconciliation in the short run."
So much for this board solving the real problem - just another bunch of political hacks!
And why county wide sewers? Only needed if they want to develop the HELL out of the whole county! The developers will get theirs and the citizens will get shoved in it.
This board needs to GO! And Doug Baer and his "Then we can send letters to force people on." too.
Dearborn County NEEDS TO CLEAN HOUSE!
"And the crazys have arived with the same old comments."
Ah!
You thieves just hate to be called thieves while your thieving!
It is bad for “business!”
But look at the legal costs!!!!
Shows where the Boards priority lies.
You have not seen legal fees until you see the DCRSD suing anybody or anything that questions their bona fides to force everyone onto sewers to finance the Board's personal pet projects!
Earlier someone wrote the following and I think it would be wise to provide this to all residents before being coerced onto pressurized sewer lines and grinder pumps and also to all the local "politicians" who may have a hand in the "forced" hook-ups!
Most situations where septic fields have caused any measurable impact to ground water qualities have been where developers have been given free reign to over-build residential areas where sewer was not available.
Dearborn County’s septic systems, by in large, have been built on larger parcels of land, under the watchful eye of our local health departments. Where not only are there proper measures taken to assure large enough drainage fields, but also secondary sites available on the property if the first septic field should begin to fail.
A septic system, when it does fail, is a slow process of failure, allowing the homeowner ample time to fix it before his drains are backing up with raw sewage.
When a grinder pump and pressurized sewer line fails, the situation is almost immediately dire.
Raw sewage backs up through low level drains, representing an immediate health risk and requiring costly clean up.
Also, if the backup is caused by a bad pump, the homeowner is on the hook for thousands of additional dollars for a new pump and all the related costs of having a plumber replace it.
Any review of the materials in the septic vs. sewer debate, has shown at best an even trade-off between the two, in moderate to densely developed areas, which Dearborn County is neither.
Further, almost all the data involved on the sewer side of the debate concerns itself with homeowners on fairly maintenance free gravity types of sewer systems.
Not grinder pumps and pressurized sewer systems.
Such systems require more immediate maintenance and careful attention by all members of the household to keep them running effectively.
Something as simple as a child allowing dental floss to go down the drain can shut down a grinder pump.
Remember this when realtor/developer controlled sewer boards try to sell the "benefits" of grinder pumps and pressurized sewer lines, it is more than evident that each and every home on such a grinder pump system has the potential for immediate and severe health consequences and expensive repairs for the homeowners!
West Aurora Project
Baer presented spreadsheet for debt service and cost for Higridge. "Will be difficult to do in a fashion affordable to everyone."
Meaning:
Any focus on High Ridge's problems requires less focus on priority issues, such as Dennerline's trailer park and Brett's proposed suvdivision.
Which is why the Board did not even want to entertain any discussion regarding High Ridge Estates!
Received a response from Zerbe for SDRSD.
Is a copy of the response available for taxpayers?
Or is Vera secreting that also?
The county needs to first fix the problems caused by an earlier developer at High Ridge Estates, before we permit present and future developers to cause us more problems and incur more expenses.
How is the "No Forced Sewer Hookup" letter coming?
Speak up Rick Fox and Jeff Hughes!
You do not work for Bob Ewbank, he works you!
Where is that Letter?
When the taxpayers and average citizens take back complete control of county government, the first "letter" that needs to go out should be:
Dear Mr. Baer,
We are no longer in need of your services.
Best regards,
The Taxpayers
"Benning is one old female dog that is incapable of learning new ethical tricks!!!"
Benning is the best thing that ever happened for "Smart Growth" proponents!
She is the poster child that will further cause the demise of her other two pals left on the County Commission!
It may be understanderable that Mrs. Benning does not know the law concerning the distribution of public documents despite even the description of then, PUBLIC DOPCUMENTS.
One wonders why she referred the matter of public documents to our nurse anesthetist when there was present that lawyer for the sewer board, our boy FRANK KRAMER. Now of course he does not always answer inquiries, he is above responding to mere citizens given his high office, his great education and fantastic legal ability. One would assume that he knew the law about public documents, at least one hopes that he does, but perhaps he was sitting there preopccupied with a weighty matter of somethiing like getting a client off of a parking ticket.
What's going on here? Where do we get these people?
"Dear Mr. Baer,
We are no longer in need of your services.
Best regards,
The Taxpayers"
Let us hope that Mr. Baer has a very good job waiting for him with Maxwell Construction!!!
Benning cannot help but let her very "petty" personality take over her being!!!
It is just who she is!!!
Remember, it was Benning who, after losing the Republican primary, immediately got on the phone to encourage a Democrat to run against the Republican that beat her!
Pure class!
Grinder pumps and pressurized sewers!
Grinder pumps and pressurized sewers!
Grinder pumps and pressurized sewers!
Grinder pumps and pressurized sewers!
And ever increasing sewer bills!
And ever increasing sewer bills!
And ever increasing sewer bills!
And ever increasing sewer bills!
THIS POINT NEEDS TO BE DRIVEN HOME TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY!
Hankins: OK. Intended to suggest since projects are limited, we don't need to meet every other week. Suggest we eliminate the third Thursday meeting till further notice.
Moved to eliminate, Fehrman, seconded Pruss. Question asked if notice needs to be given, Kramer to check. Approved.
Maybe you guys could just get together once a decade in you moms and dads's basement?
Maybe you could talk over your plans to "sewer" houseboats cruising on the ohio river past Lesko park?
But that might piss off Frank!
Maybe Fehrman & Dennerline should buy Highridge Ests. Then those poor people would get the sewer service they need. It worked for the trailer park & is working for Gabbards subdivison.
Maybe Fehrman & Dennerline should buy Highridge Ests. Then those poor people would get the sewer service they need. It worked for the trailer park & is working for Gabbards subdivison.
And maybe Fehrman and Company could find some use for the inhabitants of High Ridge as Rodney's custodial crew!
"Maybe you guys could just get together once a decade in you moms and dads's basement?'
Even a mega variety Rip Van "Freaking" Winkle sleep will not save this crew!
These son of a bitches actually want to literally "steal" thousands of dollars from the rest of us in order for them to make a few dollars!!!
In what world or time zone could these criminals wake up in where they would be welcome!!!
Maybe you could talk over your plans to "sewer" houseboats cruising on the ohio river past Lesko park?
With Douggy Baer volunteering to be on the first Jon Boat to deliver the "forced hook ups" letter to these wave bounced boats!
I'm curious- look at the financial of VRUC Wastewater and LMH wastewater. LMH spends more on chemicals taht VRUC (does this mean LMH has more customers?)
Yet LMH spends less on employees and far less on legals.
Pound for pound, whats the difference here?
Pound for pound, whats the difference here?
Possibly LMH is a utility with interests toward providing its customers with the most cost effective product...
...where the VRUC has proven, beyond any doubt, that their number one goal is to enable more development at the expense of existing customers.
I know people who live on the last bit of farm land in Colerain Township, surrounded by development and subdivisions, yet still no one is forcing sewers on them.
How is it that Colerain could finance all this development over the years without forcing hook ups?
Maybe Colerain did not finace all the development!
Maybe real businessmen with real business plans paid for their own developments?
Dennerline: ________ go away from HVL. If some metro sewer district fine! Gotten thrown into this. Shouldn't be a political football. The $4.5 million is for St. Leon, not for HVL.
How is it that the DCRSD somehow has $4.5 million for St. Leon but no money for High Ridge Estates, when their only legitimate reason to be in existence was to fix High Ridge Estates' present day sewer and health problems?
When did the focus shift from High Ridge Estates’ current and real sewage and public health problem to trying to find ways of hooking the rest of us up to grinder pumps and pressurized sewer lines, while we currently have properly functioning septic systems, with no immediate health problems?
This seems like a pretty big leap for the DCRSD!
Should not Doug Baer be the voice of reason in all this?
He seems to have totally abdicated his responsibility regarding safeguarding the public health to be an advocate for development, at any cost to the existing home and property owners!
How many people who are supposedly signing up for connections to these proposed sewer lines are doing so because they want to, or have they been intimidated into believing if they don’t sign now, they will have to pay quite a bit more when the DCRSD begins enforced sewer hook ups?
How much arm twisting and browbeating is or has taken place?
I'm shocked!! Did you fellow VRUC members realize our 4 senior VRUC board members were trying to sell our private utility company to an outside entity WITHOUT contacting us, the VRUC members! What in hell has happened to representation and communication?!?!
Do you know that the land along Alpine at the base of the dam where the VRUC buildings and lagoon are located do not belong to HVL. The POA has NO power or control over it! The 4 senior VRUC memebers were going to sell this to strangers!
An old saying says that when actions do not seem rational -- "Follow the money".....
Has anybody seen Zerbe's response letter?
Funny, how we keep hearing it would be “cheaper” for the DCRSD to build their own treatment plant than have Dillsboro provide sewer service for High Ridge Estates.
The fact that most of us will have to get loans, between $10,000.00 and 40,000.00 to pay for forced hook ups does not seem to mean “beans” to the DCRSD when talking about “saving” dollars!
The real costs of excavation, line, pumps and electrical service, plus all following sewer bills and the cost of maintaining and replacing grinder pumps…is the “real” cost to building a treatment plant, for all those forced onto DCRSD’s sewer system…which could easily be millions above the cost to run lines to Dillsboro!
The problem is and always has been that Dillsboro will not subsidize and finance all the developments planned by Fehrman and his gang of posers and hosers!
"…is the “real” cost to building a treatment plant, for all those forced onto DCRSD’s sewer system…which could easily be millions above the cost to run lines to Dillsboro!"
Only in the "CROOKED" world of the DCRSD's Board is it a "viable" alternative to force the rest of us to pay millions for other's subdivisions and various other developments, with the chance of only incidentally fixing High Ridge's sewer crisis!
Especially where Dillsboro could offer practically immediate relief to those poor residents of High Ridge Estates!
Why hasn't DCRSD looked at solving Highridge Estates at Highridge Estates instead of involving the whole neighborhood, including Gabbard Estates. Could it be because Fehrman needs a government subsidy to develop Gabbard Estates and needs the whole neighborhood to help pay for that subsidy? It would surely take a lot less money and time to fix Highridge Estates and solve an immediate health and pollution problem.
Of course if DCRSD fixed only Highridge, what would Fehrman do?
"Follow the money".....
Maybe tjaw can tell us how to follow the money.
Lawyer Price sure can smell it and Tucker must have a bunch cause Tucker hired him .
What think you tjaw? What happened to all VRUCS profits over the last 10 years?
"Could it be because Fehrman needs a government subsidy to develop Gabbard Estates and needs the whole neighborhood to help pay for that subsidy?"
That is exactly what it is all about and it is extremely insulting to be told by Fehrman and the Board, that it is a "health" issue.
High Ridge has a real and palpable health crisis existing today...and Fehrman offers no solutions that are not compatible with subsidizing his subdivision.
Dennerline has gone as far as not only suggesting that we all hook up at great expense to his sewers, but also thinks we should just buy out High Ridge and the real but unstated reason is because High Ridge’s problems cannot be remedied while profiting local realtors and developers!
Every trade-off is always in the favor of the realtor and developer at High Ridge’s and the rest of our expense!
No kidding!
Look at all the attention DCRSD has given trying to bully their way on to other functional and profitable sewer boards, without anything to show for what they have done to take care of the "only" problem they were tasked with fixing, High Ridge Estates!
The DCRSD is a joke and a hoax that may cost the rest of us our homes!
Where did the money come from for the sewer work at Cole Ln. and Stewart Rd?
How did that in any way alleviate High Ridge's problems?
Isn't ironic how we are being told that our functioning septic systems are somehow polluting the environment, when the only real health and sewage related problems in this County are around existing subdivisions already on sewers?
"Copies of documents presented in meeting and the claims were requested in writing from Secretary, Benning, so they could be attached. She indicated she did not have authorization to release them and request was forwarded to Hankins with no response thus far."
At 1425 hrs 8/6/7, I received an email memo from Susan Hayden requesting the aforementioned information. At 0719 8/7/7 Thompson posted the the same on this blog. It is misleading and disengenuous of Thompson to imply by his posting that information is being withheld, or its delivery is being deliberately delayed.
Hankins
I received the information at approximately 11:00 AM on 8/7/07. I reported the situation that existed at the time of posting. The documents were requested Friday morning after the meeting.
These are public documents and there should have been no issues with their release.
I obtained the IURC plan from another source and was able to publish it with the notes. The spreadsheet for the debt service and cost for Highridge will not readily translate to the weblog. I am working on a way to post it.
These are public documents and there should have been no issues with their release.
And Vera knew that, but it was just a case of Vera being Vera!
You could fill an auditorium with people she has treated in this manner!
Hey Hankins,
Did Ewbank deliver the "No Forced Hook-Ups Letter" to Kramer yet, or is he waiting for your combined Christmas Party and Gift Exchange?
Nice little cozy "racket" you all got going in this County!
Maxwell: What appears to be fighting with Greendale and SDRSD bothers him.
John, why do you think there are bad feelings?
Look at the power play your novice crew is trying!
Further, look what you and your Board are willing to do to get "customers!"
You cannot force people to get loans to pay for the type of sewers you want to burden them with!
John, please come to your senses!
who really stole the money?
who really stole the money?
Context?
"Dennerline has gone as far as not only suggesting that we all hook up at great expense to his sewers, but also thinks we should just buy out High Ridge and the real but unstated reason is because High Ridge’s problems cannot be remedied while profiting local realtors and developers!"
This talk of buying out High Ridge Estates happened soon after the Town of Dillsboro offered sewer service up to High Ridge but not as far as Fehrman's subdivision!
Now, Fehrman and his fellow lowlifes on the DCRSD are going to hold the poor folks in High Ridge hostage until Brett has his sewers subsidized by the citizens surrounding his subdivision!
And apparenty, Doug Baer has become the DCRSD's leg humping lap dog!
"Now, Fehrman and his fellow lowlifes on the DCRSD are going to hold the poor folks in High Ridge hostage until Brett has his sewers subsidized by the citizens surrounding his subdivision!"
That is precisely what is happening!
Benning sold us all a bill of goods!
How does she sleep at night?
Concerning the unidentified man/men approaching Hankins concerning the sell-out of VRUC to DCRSD was local attorney/HVL resident, Doug Garner, and the other supposedly an accountant.
This maneuver was not supported by the 3 junior members of the VRUC Board which includes the president, but being that the 3 are still not a majority of the members of 7 - the senior 4 are calling the shots are stalling the signing of the fair 30-year contract with Greendale.
Heard that the "gang of 4" now want to bring money-sucking L. Parvin Prive back onto the scene.
These senior 4 are so desperate to keep this contract from happening - WHAT are they trying to HIDE? -- or was some of that $2.5 million dollars from DCRSD for their own pockets or to pay bills that no ones know about?
"Concerning the unidentified man/men approaching Hankins concerning the sell-out of VRUC to DCRSD was local attorney/HVL resident, Doug Garner, and the other supposedly an accountant."
The drowning realtor/developer enablers on the DCRSD wish to share their anchor with their fellow drowning realtor/developer enablers on the VRUC!!!!!!!
This is turning into a full-fledged comedy!!!!!!!
In the interest of being an elected public official I request that county commissioner Thompson stay the course of being a county commissioner and focus on that. I do not really need him to be a correspondent.
We would not want our elected officials to try to keep us informed, unless and of course, we are the DCEDI, or every developer in the County, and characters like Benning, Fox and Hughes have us on their speed-dials!
Isn't it about time for Jim West to send over and another editorial for Jeff Hughes to sign his name to and play pretend that it is his work?
He keeps you informed the way he wants you to be informed. With the bolding of text and soforth. It is all driven by emotion.
Better emotion than greed!
And he actually posts on a blog open to all, not just the DCEDI chosen few!
And that just burns your britches!
Oh for the good ole days of Vera and pals shouting down the public then off for another round of a heepen helping of DCEDI and Developer "BOOT-LICKING!!!"
The DCRSD is trying their damnest to force all those folks around Brett's subdivision to pay for his sewers and this clown wants to critique Thompsons journalist skills!
That is like the master criminal complaining that his arresting officer has bad breath.
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