By: Diane Benjamin
City Manager Tim Gleason really wanted your property taxes increased. The main reason Alderman Boelen was against it was the water rate increase the Council recently passed. If you forgot: 33% increase for 3 years because the City needs to spend around $300,000,000.
Gleason stated again last night that water rates haven’t increased since 2011 due to no fault of this council.
Right! It’s YOUR fault Time Gleason. You were hired in 2018. You didn’t put even modest increases on the agenda in the 5 years you’ve been City Manager while other rates increase 3% a year without a vote. You either had incompetent staff that didn’t tell you about major required projects or you ignored needs like you do the streets. It should have been obvious that OLD infrastructure needed replaced – like lead pipes. Instead of essential services which is the job of government – you want a legacy.
Next spring are you going to tell the citizens it’s their fault downtown isn’t a destination and you therefore you need to fleece them for $30,000,000 to make it one?
Mayor Mwilambwe wanted your property taxes increased too. Listen around 1:50:00. He needs replaced in 2025.
Gleason comment – Just hit play:
In fairness to Tim Gleason, the 20 year Water Master Plan was presented to and passed by the Council in 2019. The water rate study was recently completed and presented earlier this year.
The real issue is failure by previous councils to provide funding for the 100y/o system.
Like streets, sewers, etc etc
Remember the Water Director he hired who didn’t last long because he wasn’t qualified?