HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974 11-21 Mayor has misgivings over water plan DISPATCH Mayor has •.
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By Jim Broede "We now acknowledge t
Staff Writer that we are at least in a
Mayor .Robert Bruton recession,” he comment-
said that because of the ed.
"state of the economy" he "This has impact," he
has misgivings about Ma- continued, "not only on•
plewood's,commitment to the city, but the people of
an independent municipal this city."
waterworks. HE SAID some of the t
H E• SUGGESTED in costs for the water system i
off-the-Cuff remarks at a improvements will have
city council .meeting last . to be assessed against
.week that if it's possible, "people who literally may
maybe the city .should not be working."
back out. Councilman Don Wie-
The city agreed earlier gert said the m a v o r
this year to go independ- .seemed to be saying,'"We
ent, with one exception. It may have bitten off more
• will continue, under the than we can chew."
The mayor said that was •
an accurate interpretation•
Ma plewood of his views.
And that prompted a re-
lan,to rely• on St. Paul to sponse from Councilman
PJohn Greavu, an opponent. •
provide the water, but at of the independent water.
wholesale instead of retail system from the start.
rates. He favors continuing
That leaves Maplewood with the present set-up,
• responsible for construe- allowing St. Paul to ser-
tion of mains, under- vice the community at re- i
ground reservoirs,booster tail rates higher than in
stations,water towers and St.Paul.
maintenance of the sys- "YOU DON'T know how
tern. much you bit off,"Greavu
MAYOR BRUTON said• told the council.
his biggest concern was "There's no way," he
with t1e financial invest-. asserted, "that, this sys-
ment, involving millions tern can be paid for by the
tion.dollars in new construe- water users. We are going
t
"It's a hell of a step to to end up putting it on a
be taking now," he assert- g e n e r a l obligation tax
ed. levy. And I mean a whole
"I'm looking for an al- hell of a lot of it."
ternative,"he added, "but IF THE•users pick up
I don't see one." the tab, he warned, the
The mayor said condi- "cost of water will exceed
tions have changed since the cost of whiskey."
the city council voted 4-1 Greavu blamed engi-
for a municipal water sys- neering and fiscal consult-
tem. ants, in part, for the city
"Interest•r a t e s have council's decision to go in-
gone up. up, up," Bruton dependent.
said. 'So our interest "You know these people
costs are going to be high- (consultants) sold you a
.er." bill of goods,"he said.
•' He also referred to the Councilman Norm An-
Lieneral effects of "infla- derson told Greavu: "I'm
on," stating• "Construe- not saying you are wrong.
tion costs will be substan- Maybe we should forget
tially higher than we once about the damn thing and
visualized." just let it sit."