"PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER" patti smith
A REMINDER TODAY SEPTEMBER 27,2016 6:30 PM IS ANOTHER 'GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED' AT HARVEY HIGH THE MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
The people have the power
To redeem the work of fools
Someone asked me yesterday if I felt vindicated over the Newsnet5 story?
No, although myself and many others have been warning resident's of this coming problem people knowing about it doesn't solve it. A short TV news spot that will soon be forgotten and it will be back to business as usual.
I once asked former councilman Andy Flock what was wrong with the council, the administration and even the people to let this get out of hand?
Andy surmised that until this problem hits resident's in their wallet's or pocketbook's don't expect much. A council unthreatened by loss of an election as well as an administration that seems isolated from the problem feels also unthreatened.
Simply said we are at the mercy of the administration. How many different electric prices are there in Painesville? With the way Painesville operates resident's might bear the burden of high electric costs subsidizing businesses in town? First the main reason Airfoil has a plant in Painesville was due to Painesville's low electric pricing. Well the way Painesville can operate a electric utility they can charge whomever whatever they want. This situation will only worsen. The major power contracts the city is involved in with AMP-OHIO show no relief in the future. PSEC, Ohio River Hydro, as well as another very high contract not to expire until 2020. Let's not even mention the 2.1 million fiasco we paid in stranded costs for Meigs County. WE paid our money! Painesville has no money, the only money they have is collected from us.
PCA was described as power purchased over what our own plant produces. In truth the whole electric cost including streetlights are purchased elsewhere. Painesville I believe operated it's plant at less than five weeks this year. (Peak Shaving) Hell, the administration can't even be honest about that. We are always on 'standby''? So run the plant? Why bother the city is already committed to all these power contracts and would be obligated to honor them.
This problem didn't start yesterday actually it came to Painesville in 2007. Only now we see what happened. Back then we were told over and over we need coal generating plant's to provide 'Base' power. This was a time before wind, solar even gas. Cracking was just beginning to produce power. Could Peabody as well as AMP-OHIO see the handwriting on the wall? Deciding to make a final stand for coal? People question if these contract's came with a 'kickback? Well if there was no kickback then was it promoted by imbecile's. 50 year contract's "Take or Pay contracts". The people that were the main proponent's in this were city manager Rita McMahon and Council-President Joseph Hada. They promoted the council votes. What this council doesn't want anyone held responsible? Just shut up and pay your bill!
The first thing the administration as well as the electric director must decide is who's side are they on? Get out of bed with AMP-OHIO and get on the side of Painesville resident's! Join with other communities and fight this theft.
There is no one presently fighting for you. It's past time to get the ball rolling. Soon between the school's and electric bills your investment in your homes will be worthless!
Until you let council know you will not but up with inaction on this matter the sooner something will happen. It's about time some of you get as angry about this as I am!
I failed to mention the City approved the purchase of two columbarium each holding 48 niches. Both will be at Evergreen Cemetery.
Home sales PCLSD
242 Avery Terrace $50,000
243 S. St. Clair $89,500
58 Lincoln Blvd. $147,000
872 Homewood Ave. $98,000
634 Beacon Dr. $125,000
posted by terminator1 @ 1:09 PM
21 Comments
21 Comments:
I would invite everyone reading Term's blog to drive on W Prospect St and take a look at the amount of coal stored there.
How long does anyone think this coal supply would last if they actually had to operate the plant?
I am very sure it might last a day or two, certainly not very long.
We are continuously told that keeping the plant is good for us because we get $4M of "credit" for it. For some reason that money never seems to make it to my monthly bill which continues to rise at an alarming rate.
Now if the numbers are to be believed we have about $38M in an account that can't be used for any other activity PLUS we have a full work force just "in case".
Yep, it would work that way in the private sector too. NOT!!!
Time to get rid of this white elephant.
1:42 Coal supply is not the problem trucks could arrive within 48 hours from a mine south of Youngstown. I have to agree that 4 million never seems to show up? Or does that go into the electric fund?
Truthfully I believe the plant's only reason for being operational is the clean-up (brownfield) cost would be astronomical. Ad yes, no private business would operate as the City of Painesville they would have been bankrupt decades ago.
As I watched the council meeting a few issues you pointed out got me thinking.
Why did Deleone go to the mat for Walnut St.? Yet and at the same time showed little regard to resident's on W.Eagle?
I can't understand the reasoning here? That stretch of Walnut was extensively repaired two years ago? At the same time I don't want to believe it is a racial issue? But certain sections in town truly seem to be ignored.
Term,
Trucks?
48 hours?
If the power was needed for an emergency, 48 hours isn't going to cut it.
Besides, they have RR tracks immediately beside the plant. I wonder why that would not be a consideration. Much better than having X number of trucks on Richmond St ruining our otherwise fine road.
My feeling is that if we are getting $4M in "credit, our electric bill should be damned near free. Take the total number of Pvvl Muny customers and divide it into the $4M and see what the result is.
Why do they need $38M (or whatever the current amount it) when it can't be used for anything else? They need enough to keep operating, not a slush fund that keeps growing.
3:46 I don't believe so. First councilman DeLeone is Ward III councilman and a politician. His ward encompasses that part of Walnut St, Precincts (3A -3B) you protect your turf, first. Walnut St. is a red street. W. Eagle is a red street in Ward IV.
So it's pretty much left up to council-president Paul Hach to get W. Eagle paved.
I understand your thinking as it would appear the city take care of number 5 streets first. So how in Ward II did Rockwood a #4 get done before the #5? That said E. Erie was considered a #4 and it was truly a #5.
Yes it's politics as usual I expect Skinner Ave. on next years list only because two council people live on it.
Sorry don't think its race. just politics.
7:08 I don't believe there ever was a coal siding there? I've been told less then 24 hours? The Painesville budget is close to 80 million almost a 50% has something to do with electric purchases and services. I will soon get the numbers.
Have to admit you seem to be ahead of the curve whether it's garbage, electric, poles and downtown. This village needs about five more of you!
A full work force at the plant is 42 people. Currently there is 25 employees, 7 of which are managers.
Seven managers for twenty five employees??
Really?
Do they need to have baby sitters because that is over the top with regards to management.
You would NEVER find that ratio in a business that has to make a profit.
42 might have been the number needed when they actually produced power. I would love to hear the justification for that number today.
11:42 Justification? That's easy you, I and everyone else pays for it!
Who holds anyone responsible?
Maybe? They are waiting for the next BadA$$ city manager to come in and do the dirty work. Mr Carson was the union members best friend so no way would he want to eliminate their positions. He always had the ear of the union people who were whispering sweet nothings and lied into his ear about department heads. Hopefully the next leader has better standards.
I think the Electric Plant is down to 22 employees and half of the Supervisors are double dipping.
You lived here your whole life and don't know there was a railroad siding from the old B&O tracks that parked directly next to the back of the building? I remember seeing the coal cars parked there. Though I am younger than you, so that might explain the memory. ��
If they fired/laid off everyone there tomorrow, your rates would not be any lower. Might as well be happy someone is able to have a job in our amazing recovering economy.
8:12 and in what year were those tracks pulled up? When was the last rail shipment of coal by train into Painesville? Is it safe to assume 35 years?
8:16 Well, with your theory let's hire 100 more workers? Then we can be happy those people also have jobs?
7:57 Wonder if we will ever get down to the 'Magnificent 7'?
Term,
I am pretty sure that the tracks were removed in about 1981.
8:16
You mean they work for free? That is the only reason that rates would not go down. People and building operations cost money. If those are eliminated, a very strong case would be made to drop our rates.
That is a great reason to keep the building and the employees, isn't it? So we pay tradesman wages to cut grass? Does that make any sense?
11:42 "Does that make any sense?" Well it does if your spouse works there.
Term,
I thought of that angle but figured that no one could be THAT stupid.
OTOH, I am probably wrong and you are right.
Just keep paying folks for work not performed.
This electric department needs a whole makeover. From top to bottom. From contract to rates and it all must be transparent and in the end benefit the resident's and not just the employees or the administration.
11:42 Silly me. I forgot...those power purchase agreements with prairie state and the hydro one have rate dropping clauses if Painesville gets rid of there electric plant. Term said it was $140/MWh? That would be $0.14/kWh on your bill. Yeah we'll be able to save a bundle. And did you all forget about the line workers? I hear their adding more workers and equipment. I'm pretty sure they are paid and the trucks and equipment must be maintained. Where will that money come from if they dropped their rates?
8:13 Rate dropping clause if Painesville gets rid of its electric plant? Please explain and for reference Galion, Ohio hasn't operated a power plant for years and pays the same price as we do?. I believe the electric department has two divisions? plant and line worker's?
3:01 it's called sarcasm. 11:42 said the only reason rates wouldn't go down is if the employees were working for free. So what if their are two divisions, they all get paid from the electric fund. And I bet the line workers are higher paid.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home