IT'S THE WATER STUPID... HOW DO YOU LIKE PAYING FOR IT?

"The Village Clerk" Debbie Williams

OPINION EDITORIAL
By Joseph Wiszowaty

It took everything in me to not burst in to laughter during the point where Village Clerk Debbie Williams got up to speak during Trustee Derrick Burgess’ Town Hall Meeting Thursday night.  First off I have to say she has some nerve, arrogant and exudes a smell of "entitlement" or whatever that was.  They shut you down after three minutes at Village Hall but she wants to take up the residents time to push their political agenda!

Williams wanted to “correct” Trustee Burgess on what she believed was “not true” about the water rate increase.  Boy if that wasn’t the pot calling the kettle black!!  So I decided to get her OH-SO-HOLY minutes out of moth balls shake them off and here is truth as this woman has told us in public.  By the way her minutes are atrocious in my opinion:

 

Excerpt from Village Minutes

OCTOBER 16, 2012:

“RCAP representative Bud Mason stated the rate of $7.50 (water rate increase enacted in 2012 from $3.50) was based on affordability and the ability of the residents to repay the $7 million dollar loan. The loan includes approximately $2 million dollars that will address infrastructure improvements needed to bring Sauk Village closer to the goal of less than the 8% water loss required by the IDNR but does not address the infrastructure required to bring Lake Michigan water to the Village.”  NOTE: Village only received a loan of $4.8 million not $7million!

Oh and here’s a good one:

                September 18, 2012:

"The February 2013 increase to $7.50 per 1,000 gallons should be sufficient to repay the IEPA loan and cover the current and future operation and maintenance needs of air strippers at wells 1, 2 and 3 and new iron removal facilities and system upgrades to the two water treatment plants at wells 1 and 2 and to get well 3 open.

Approximately $2.2 million dollars will remain to be used for distribution system improvements, such as, replacing mains, valves and meters and flushing the system. Additional repairs to the distribution system may be needed to get Lake Michigan water ready. The Lake Michigan water project will take several years.”  NOTE: The Village only received a loan of $4.8 million not $7 million!

And this CLASSIC….

August 7, 2012:

Bud Mason’s “Recommendation: Raise water rates $2.00 now to take care of the deficit and $2.00 in six months to start making upgrades to the system. Reevaluate project costs every six months in order to determine additional rate increases.”

Upgrades include updating hydrants, meters and mains. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will not give Sauk Village a water allocation until 20% of the infrastructure is replaced.”

Ok so the Village didn’t borrow $7 million only $4.8 million.  So quiz me this public, who is paying these outrageous water rates, why is the rate at $7.50 per 1000 gallons to cover debt service on $7 million when you’re only paying $4.8 million in a loan?  Where is all the money going?  More important… why aren’t you mad as hell about paying outrageous bills?

In June, David Hanks stole $7,660 out of the water fund to pay for grass cutting without even so much as telling his board of trustees!  Let’s go back to just last month’s budget review where Mayor David Hanks budgeted $300,000 from the water fund to balance the Village’s budget.  Not for the water department but for other village functions! 

So they shove a huge water rate increase down your throat, you swallow it, pay the bills, go home close your curtains, turn on your outside lights (because your street light has been out) stick your head in the sand and let them squander your money away on things it was never intended?  Where is the outrage?   How do you like paying a huge water bill so that David Hanks can balance his budget?  Talk about a TAX INCREASE that you didn't see coming!

I know there’s a silent majority and a “sleeping giant” out there which has been communicating with me.  Here is but a few of the MANY I have received:

·         “I’m afraid to post anything on this page because some of my friends will see it and get mad.  I want to thank you for everything you do.  Thank you for helping bring the truth to light.  I read your page all the time as it is the only place we can get news about what is going on”- A Senior Citizen

·          “Keep up the good job.  Thank you for fighting for us”- A 15 year resident

·         “I can’t post on your page because I will probably get fired.  Keep up the good work!  A lot of us appreciate what you’re doing!  We have got to stop this, it’s just like having Lewis Towers and Henrietta Turner still in office” – A Village employee

·         “I know how they play and I can’t post anything because I know David and his followers will attack me”- 45 year resident

By the way Madam Clerk…. Since you have time to play politics, how about doing your job! Where is my information I’d requested on your “personal trip” to Washington D.C.?  The People of the Village of Sauk Village and the Attorney General wants to know too!