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We are a great suburb!
Council has taken the first step in keeping Westminster beautiful, by lowering water rates. We are not yet to truly fair and reasonable water rates. If we build an unneeded, new, $196 million water plant, we are losing the gains we made.
Westminster is a great suburb. We will only remain a great suburb by constantly reminding Council not to be swayed by the "fear pushers" and doubters. Obi Ezeadi and Sarah Nurmela refused to join in lowering ware rates. Some on Council were reluctant to lower water rates to more reasonable amounts because of fear-based advice from staff. When we planned to cut the amount of profit we make on the Water Enterprise from $22 million to $15 million, fears were raised that those plans would ruin our finances. So we compromised and agreed to reduce the water rate cuts from $5.54 to $6.52 per 1,000 gallons which is about $2 million dollars more to the City. The survival of our water system does not rely on $2 million of increased profit. The beauty of our landscapes and neighborhoods might. I see the worries and fears of financial ruin as silliness. The true threat to the financial stability of the water system is wasting money on unneeded capital projects. Our staff has recommended too many of those wasteful projects (examples: unrequired Bio-solid dewatering plant in 2016 @$23 million and replacing residential water meters throughout the City in 2021 @$13 million - note: just those two projects represent 18 years of $2 million reduced rates).
I still insist Council promise to all Westminster homeowners that we will always have water rates similar to what Denver pays. Westminster can make that promise. We have the Water. We have the financal muscle. If we do not allow over-building in the remaining vacant land in Westminster we can keep that promise. As voters, you can support Council members that will make that promise. I want Westminster to always be a green, beautiful, uncrowded place.
I still insist Council promise to all Westminster homeowners that we will always have water rates similar to what Denver pays. Westminster can make that promise. We have the Water. We have the financal muscle. If we do not allow over-building in the remaining vacant land in Westminster we can keep that promise. As voters, you can support Council members that will make that promise. I want Westminster to always be a green, beautiful, uncrowded place.
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So why would a homeowner plant, water and maintain a wonderful display of flowers next to the road on the side of his house? They will only see them when they are entering or leaving their neighborhood.
My guess is the homeowner wants to make a colorful contribution to having an attractive, pleasant neighborhood. I am also only guessing from the little library, the homeowners want their neighborhood to be generous, kind and caring. |
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Water rates based on the true costs of providing water will allow nearly all of our neighbors in all of our neighborhoods to make similar contributions to the beauty of our city.
It is my guess/speculation that the true intent of high water rates is to reduce consumption by current users. Then give that water to the 33,000 more people that DRCOG and developers want to crowd into Westminster. |
We still need to change the direction that our city is taking. We should not be spending our time and tax dollars on growth. We should be proud that Westminster is a mature city.
We must take care of the Quality of Life in our neighborhoods for the people and businesses that are here!
I will continue to work toward that goal and with a majority of like minded council members: 1- we will lower water rates, 2- we will stop subsidizing apartment, 3- we will stop changing the Comprehensive Plan to crowd in more housing, 4-we will improve our Quality of Life.
We must take care of the Quality of Life in our neighborhoods for the people and businesses that are here!
I will continue to work toward that goal and with a majority of like minded council members: 1- we will lower water rates, 2- we will stop subsidizing apartment, 3- we will stop changing the Comprehensive Plan to crowd in more housing, 4-we will improve our Quality of Life.
Water rates must be based on true costs. I think EVERY homeowner wants to do their part in keeping their property attractive as part of an attractive neighborhood. Homeowners have PRIDE in their neighborhoods.
The first picture of two well maintained landscapes shows damage of price tiers. Obviously, the unreasonable, arbitrary price tiers have severly impacted one of the property owners and prevented the use of enough water. Perhaps there are more family members. Or maybe a fixed, retirement income places limits on water use. We need to empower our residents to do their part in making a beautiful City. I like green grass, American Flags and flowers. So do my neighbors!
The first picture of two well maintained landscapes shows damage of price tiers. Obviously, the unreasonable, arbitrary price tiers have severly impacted one of the property owners and prevented the use of enough water. Perhaps there are more family members. Or maybe a fixed, retirement income places limits on water use. We need to empower our residents to do their part in making a beautiful City. I like green grass, American Flags and flowers. So do my neighbors!
