"COOL WATER " slim whitman

I have heard a lot of smoke and mirrors recently when it comes to Painesville's three utilities.
At the last council meeting the discussion focused on  'what would happen if the road levy fails?'
Talk of eliminating reciprocity to assessing people for street repairs. Listening from the audience what started as a question turned into a perceived threat?

Now the last time I checked there was about 230,000 people living in Lake County approximately only 19,000 of these souls have their own electric, water and waste treatment facilities. How's that working out for you?

I would like the city to take and have the water system analyzed  by an independent firm and evaluate the value of this resource to the people of Painesville. What is it's worth? Would anyone be interested in purchasing the facility? How would it affect the cost of water service to resident's and business?

Water is one of our most precious resources, that said ask, the people on Elm St. how it was that the city felt little responsibility in providing rust free water due to the age of the water pipes. I remember Councilman Flock setting a rusted filter in front of the city manager. Still until every resident along with business had a surcharge that raised residents there water bill  by $8.00 a month not one pipe was replaced.

Maybe its time to evaluate this water department to see what we can best use it for? Maybe it's time to move on? Another thing to consider is that in a few years Concord Townships water contract with the city will again go out for bid. If we loss that business what is the net worth of our water department? Can and will Painesville offer a lower rate to Concord than city residents?

As many residents have already seen the Electric Department has made mistakes. No I'll take that back,  the council and administration has made many mistakes one that cost the electric department 2 million dollars last December. Now we have built  a 4000sq.ft. building behind the electric plant for that Ashlawn Battery project and something is very wrong. Was the council fully informed before we spent that $400,000 on building that building thanks again to our former city manager not telling council the whole story?. What's going on? You could cut the air with a knife when that resolution was discussed at last Mondays council meeting. I get the impression that council and the administration would like this all to go away. I asked my councilman what's the deal? He informed me he couldn't discuss it? Now call your council person and see if you get the same answer?

It seems the only utility that seems to be run affectively is the waste treatment plant? Although by their own admission they are only running at 50% capacity. Another idea the city might solve the smell problem would be to plant Douglas Fir trees along the east side of the property this might solve that problem.

Would the selling of the water plant be a new idea for Painesville? Back in the early 60's Painesville owned it's own natural gas department this was sold to East Ohio Gas.

I guess I'm asking is our Water Department one of our 'sacred cows' and residents deem it more important than say living in Painesville working in Mentor and paying 2% income tax to them and then as Councilman Fodor suggested paying 2% to Painesville also? This could be accomplished with a simple vote of council.  Something to remember if you suggest raising income taxes on people and you presently get a income tax free pension it would be very easy to vote for this.

All I'm saying before we are subject to threats maybe we should think out of the box. Have I missed anything? If you believe this is a good or bad idea please lets us know and the reason's why.