I am happy to have been able to begin putting out this bit of good news albeit in bits and pieces as I don't give out names of people who trust me with information and don't want their names to show up anywhere. Sad to live in fear of retribution but it is what it is and some need protection.
It is hoped that the Plant will begin production at the soonest and allow for a whole lot of local folks to get some good steady jobs with a decent wage This area for sure needs it.
And that sadly is the end of the good news..........................
At what passed for a very well prepared and presented Vienna Utility Board Meeting Play this morning (Wednesday- 27th), the VUB rolled over and pronounced that the people who live here do so too cheaply and because they the VUB as well as the City Council could not manage the money coming into the VUB, it would be necessary to raise rates to the maximum suggested. This will allow the VUB to continue to fund the payments of bonds that probably should not have been entered into in 2015 when it was noted there was NO money to pay the Bond Payments without going into the Enterprise Reserve funds. This has now resulted in the VUB/ City potentially facing default if they do not get the funds into a liquid position to make the required payments and maintain the necessary reserves. So, look for some nice increases for the next 11,000 years while the City Council sits back and grins at you.
I will go into more on the dog and pony show later but must note an asinine comment by one of both the VUB and City Council Members who said if we do not raise rates to allow for the City to expand, the City will die.
Now in spite of, not because of the current VUB Board and City Council the City has been here since 1794 and incorporated in 1934 (1935, my typo). Somehow it has prospered and grown into the tight little City we know today. But suddenly because of a lack of Fiduciary Responsibility and Malfeasance in Office on the part of some, this City is going to die without this rate increase?
Another thing I will note right now is Mr. Rapp going on about 50 families being moved to the MOV from the D.C. area in the Fiscal Debt Operation. He thinks those families are what we should have move into Vienna. High Income/ High Management type people that are what is good for Vienna. So I would guess that anyone who gets one of those not so high paying jobs and with grease or dirt under their nails at Hino, should look somewhere else to live. Will probably be another LED sign up somewhere soon that " lowlifes need not apply to live here".
That seems to fit into what I was told the other day about the intent to turn Vienna into some sort of "elitist" Community where the only folks earning under $60K/ Year will be the servants to the richie rich? Sad folks when those who made this Country are somehow not welcome to live where they might be welcome? But I like you people; have been one of you for decades and can pretty easily separate the snobs from the real folks. And you win hands down.
There was a big to do also on the Seniors getting that $2.00 reduction in the Police Fee. Now that has been around for decades even if the City chose not to say anything about if for years so people could take advantage of it. I finally took it not because I was 65, but because it had been made very clear to me that I had no Police Protection. My wife is still paying hers, but watch her at 65. Now the way that Mr. Rogers, Mr. Rapp and Ms. Roberts talked today is like see what we are doing to help those old folks? We are (have been), giving them $24.00 back to offset the new and upwardly mobile Water/ Sewer Rates.
They continue to crow about how cheap our water is and than Ms. Roberts/ Mr. Rapp start in on how because our rates are so low, we cannot easily get loans. Amy, Randi, etal, we DON'T need loans, we need fiscal responsibility and people who represent the City Residents. YOU DON'T and showed it again today with a motion to go for the highest rates noted.
It should be noted that the first bond on the Sewer Plant update did not have to start paying until it was done. That was about two (2), years ago with the City to pay about $33,000/ quarter beginning about 1 July 2015. Okay, so did the City SAVE the $33K from 2013 until 2015 as hedge/ savings to pay bond debt? NO, it was spent, wasted on other projects, pay raises, benefits, equipment- anything but the damn bonds. That would have been about $250,000 right there to offset the lack of reserve we are dealing with now. Combine that with the below and all of a sudden a "wise VUB/ City Council using "Fiduciary Responsibility" would be so far ahead that maybe, just maybe this increase would have/ be avoided?
Nowhere was cost reductions noted and nowhere will they be done. Here is how the City could easily pick up about $200,000.00 in two years. It is called money management and facing the music. FREEZE, yes freeze ALL VUB salaries for two years. NO spending for all the new equipment year after year as is the habit for two (2) years. That would be a very nice start to balancing the bankrupt funds (almost), that have been allowed to happen under the watch of the folks who are not watching.
Now that is called "tough love" and brings reality home to the VUB employees. Is it a bit tough on those with the least say; absolutely. But they will continue to have good jobs with the current wage levels and no one out the door.
I have noted many times the three most important words for equipment of any kind- Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Having as a Property Book Officer been accountable and responsible for hundreds and hundreds of vehicular type vehicles, it was common to have equipment that lasted 12- 15 years each. Sure, some got dinged up, maybe needed a paint touch up here or there, but the moving parts moved and did so each day to get the job done.
Image is a sign of narcissism, egotism and plain stupidity. I was always happy with ten workers who looked like they had been pulled through a keyhole and than shoved back riding in trucks/ recovery vehicles, cranes, you name it and I was content with our mission- SUPPORT the folks, not the pride. VUB, you let the City down again.
And as has been noted, it has been put out that the City Council is to approve the "original" set of increase numbers in one step. The folks who have groveled, begged, crawled for the imaginary Public Forum are just tools/ props in the side show. Mr. Brookover/ Ms. Metz, I have to apologize for what is being done to you by Mr. Rapp. 'nuff said'.