posted May 20, 2008
County Commission Chairman Bill Hullander said he has received numerous calls and letters from citizens regarding a new charge to be imposed by the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Authority.
And Commissioner Curtis Adams wrote a letter to WWTA Chairman Henry Hoss expressing his disappointment that the fee was voted without informing the commission.
Commissioner Hullander said he will ask that the commission finance committee look into the issue and ask WWTA officials to come before the commission.
WWTA members voted unanimously early this month to recommend that a new $8 fee be imposed on all 24,000 WWTA customers as part of a $46 million sewer improvement program.
Commissioner Hullander said no one from the WWTA discussed the matter with him prior to the vote. He said he found out about it after getting a letter from the mayor of Red Bank.
Commissioner Hullander said, "This concerns me greatly because this fee will be more annually than a property tax increase for some individuals.
"I feel we need to find out the reason they will be charging this fee."
Commissioner Hullander said other bodies that impose fee increases normally have to have a hearing or there is a review process.
He said, "I don't know of anyone who is over the WWTA."
He said Finance Committee Chairman Adams will be heading up the inquiry.
Commissioner Adams said in his letter:
Dear Mr. Hoss:
Personally I feel you displayed bad judgment when you made your decision to place another charge on citizens of our county without first briefing members of the Hamilton County Commission.
I am extremely disturbed that a non-elected board would have the authority to take money out of the pockets of our citizens. You can be assured they consider this as another tax increase and it hampers local governments if they have the need for more revenue.
As chairman of the Hamilton County Commission Finance Committee, I have been given the assignment to get more facts on this increase to the public.
Please plan to attend the Hamilton County Commission Agenda Session on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. to explain in detail your plans for this additional $8 per month from Hamilton County citizens.
Sincerely,
Curtis D. Adams
Chairman
Hamilton County Commission Finance Committee
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |