Water first not the way to go
To the editor:
The Cape Coral Council voted to proceed with water first for N 1-8 and in doing so have legislated many families into financial ruin!
The information that was spewed by Mr. Mason (Financial Director for Cape Coral) was startling. His comments on all the properties that were exempt from paying the assessments were astounding! He stated that on city -owned property the “city” would pay the assessment! Who is the “city”? In this instance the “city” is the property owners in the assessment area who will as part of their assessment be paying the assessments for city-owned property, the schools, developments etc.!
The foreclosure issue as it relates to the UEP was another issue that Mr. Mason really was deceptive about. If you are having trouble paying your mortgage now and they add the assessment to your mortgage payment as part of your PITI, many people will be pushed into foreclosure. The UEP is, without a doubt, a contributor to the foreclosures in spite of Mr. Mason’s preposterous statement.
Councilman Donnell was a complete disappointment. This man that states he has a heart for the homeless, low-income families and stated to me that he felt that the “economy would be going into a depression in the next 2-3 months”, he further stated that he was aware that the “unemployment rate is far greater than what is being reported for Cape Coral” and he votes for this. Astounding!
Councilman Day was predictable on his vote for this as he owns approximately five homes in the North Cape, approximately four of which were foreclosures. Good news is that when your home goes into foreclosure Mr. Day will be right there to buy it. Mayor Burch’s company surely will benefit as it has a close working relationship with MWH. Councilwoman Tate will surely benefit as it will give her more foreclosed homes to sell. Councilwoman Bertolini has repeatedly stated “she has paid hers” now it is your turn.
The city does not even have maintenance records for the system we have in place i.e. valves at average cost of $45,000 each and there are approximately 422 such valves for the sewers alone. That equates to approximately $19 million dollars (enough money to do 3200 homes in the North) in sewer valves that just sit there in the ground and corrode. Simply exercising them twice a year would keep them viable and useful when there is a problem such as the one on Chiquita Boulevard that will cost some $1.8 million dollars to fix. Unfortunately with no maintenance performed on the valves in that area, the city is reluctant to turn them off for fear of them breaking. Hence another big project for MWH. They do not have a suppressant injection in the lift stations for the reduction of hydrogen sulfide which corrodes pipes causing major repairs. Hence, more projects for MWH. A 42-inch line is cut at a level below newer incoming lines to the reclamation facility, hence more work for MWH. Guess who cut the 42 inch line, MWH! They do not even have “as built plans” and no “plans” for the work on Chiquita Blvd., yet this bunch on Council voted to spend $1.8 million on this project! No layoffs at MWH! Why not just make MWH a signatory on the city checking account or are they already?
The actions or lack thereof of this administration and some on Council is indeed frightening!
Lynn Rosko
Cape Coral