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Mt. Jewett residents seek end to water-boro feud |
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Written by Publisher
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Thursday, 05 November 2009 |
Photo by Ted Lutz
This is a portion of the standing-room-only crowd that attended Wednesday’s meeting of the Mt. Jewett Borough Water Authority. About 25 residents attended the meeting at the authority’s new office at 44 W. Main St., Mt. Jewett.
MT. JEWETT – Mt. Jewett residents are calling for an end of bickering between the Mt. Jewett Borough Water Authority and the Mt. Jewett Borough Council.
This message was expressed Wednesday at the authority’s meeting at the place that has stirred the latest controversy – the authority’s new office in a privately-owned building at 44 W. Main St.
“This nit-picking has to end,” Jim Sluga told the authority. “We’re here to say ‘stop it.’”
A standing-room-only crowd of about 25 attended the meeting. Several spoke out about the appearance of a feud between council and the seven-member authority, which council appoints to operate the local water system.
Norm Johnson, a former authority member, said the two volunteer bodies need to “work together” for the best interests of Mt. Jewett. “Settle your differences with the borough,” he said in addressing the authority.
“Respect each other instead of back-stabbing,” Emy Troutman said. “Quit bickering.”
“Wake up and work together,” Gene Ginkel, a former borough councilman, said.
Roger Roesch, who joined the authority this year, said he agrees that both parties need to work together. But he said there “seems to be very little of that” at this time.
Mike Park, vice chairman of the authority, suggested the resumption of dialogue between council, the water authority and the Mt. Jewett Regional Sewer Authority.
He said Dick Danielson put together a meeting of all three entities when he served as council president. Danielson no longer serves on council, but it was suggested to ask him to serve as a moderator at a joint meeting of all three borough entities.
The latest rift between council and the authority developed when the authority acted to move its office nearly three weeks ago from the borough building on Center Street to a privately-owned building at 44 W. Main St.
The authority had been paying the borough $400 per month or $4,800 annually for rent. This same rent now will go to John Archer, the owner of the private building.
“I don’t believe it’s a good move,” Johnson said. “The borough just lost $4,800. Bingo! It’s gone.”
The loss in authority rent will create a $4,800 revenue loss in the borough budget. But Scott Sanders, a member of the authority, said the borough “shouldn’t be crying over $4,800” in lost income because the budget “shouldn’t be running that close” to making ends meet.
Sanders said the authority has been contemplating a move from the borough building for “two or three years.” He claimed the move is “not a personal vendetta” against the borough.
Sluga, however, said he believes the office move is linked with “a bunch of nit-picking” between the authority and the council. He said the water office in the borough building has “sufficed for a number of years.” He said he is “totally against” the move.
Mark Kossack said part of the money he pays for his water bill went back “into the community” through the rent the authority paid to the borough. He said this rent now is going to a landlord.
Ginkel said the water office move from the borough building to a private building “wasn’t best for the town.”
Earlier this year, the authority and council locked horns over the possible sale of the water system to a private company.
Some council members wanted to explore a possible sale. Fearing a large rate increase for borough water customers, the authority went on record against any deal with a private company.
Two private companies expressed an interest in buying the Mt. Jewett water system, but no action has been pursued.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 09 November 2009 )
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