"The Water Services Department is the hellhole of Kansas City Government." Ouch. It is also the ultimate supplier of of water and sewer to WL. The editorial describes the man hired to save the department, Bill Downey, who has been hired as a consultant at $250 an hour to fix the mess. Why should we care? Couple of reasons.
#1) the dawdling KCMO has exhibited in upgrading the East & West lift stations. In my opinion, ticking time bombs that we have been unusually lenient in tolerating. We, WLIC and the City, talk a good story but carry no big stick. Thus the yearly promises of action with little or no improvement. We still have the potential of becoming one big cesspool for KCMO.
#2) KCMO City Manager has proposed "an eyepopping" rate increase of 17% for sewer and 12% for water for 2012. You might recall WL just increased rates to catch up to the previous two years the city decided to not pass along KCMO increases. Frankly dumb...as admitted by Mayor Bos (he actually said "stupid"). Will WL jack the rates again? KCMO itself is in a catch-up mode, facing a $2.5 billion mandated upgrade of the sewer system.
I need a drink...of water.
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