HOUSE WORDS

(This is a follow-up to the Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 Workshop presenting the findings of a Sewer/Solid Waste Rate Study by Burton & Associates, Inc. and the Commission Meeting, immediately following, considering the termination of Finance Director Marty Schless.)

To all city commissioners from IRB Beach Trail resident Don House:

Last night the discussion of the contract with Marty was an embarrassment to the city. The lack of resolve to solve the problem either way does not bode well for the hard times before this city. Hoping for the best is not real action unless you plan for the worst. Perhaps commission meetings would be better served by watching a couple of Disney movies and bringing in a bunch of puppies.The commission and the city need real data to make the tough decisions coming up. A big point was made about the lack of monthly reports. (By the way we do know that a majority of you voted to stop the reports in your last terms). Just to let you know these reports probably aren’t as hard to get as you might think. There are these new things out there. They are called “computers”. With the right program they can almost instantaneously give you any report you are looking for. But with these “computers” there is a big warning. GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT! This has always been my concern when looking at the data from the finance department. What exactly are we looking at and what is it called now? I hope this newfound trust in the finance department works well for the city. As for the sewer and solid waste rate study. I hope the city is planning to ask for a refund. The charts sure looked pretty but $30,000 for 5 minutes work with a $1 calculator? Seems a little high. The real problem though was what appeared last night a reluctance to embrace the core of the problem. RB stated that charging a rate based on usage would put an unfair burden on the fulltime residents. Since when did having to pay for what you use constitute an unfair burden? Call me crazy but charging someone for something they don't use, well that seems an unfair burden. The political nature of this rate structure has gotten the city in trouble before and it will again. This commission needs to do the right thing and plan for the future.