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Post by BHU on Oct 24, 2019 19:48:47 GMT -5
Yessiree! Like clockwork the MVWA is proposing the first of their biannual water rate hike on January 1. This time around the hike is 2.5%. There will be a public hearing, nobody will show up & the rate hike will go into effect. Course, it wouldn't matter if 1,000 people showed up & complained, they'd ram it down our throats anyway. And come April 1st they will get another hike, complete with the usual bullshit excuses on why every year for the past 10 they've bled customers dry with never ending rate hikes for water that tastes like cat piss.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2019 10:38:55 GMT -5
WUTR has a spot on this on the late news and what struck me as odd is that they mentioned two reasons for the increase and one was less use of the system. If that means people are using less water than shouldn't that be reflective in a lower water bill!!
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Post by Clipper on Oct 25, 2019 11:13:49 GMT -5
With less usage, they need the increase to maintain all the feathers in their little feathered nest. There IS the infrastructure that requires money to maintain, and then there are also those pockets that need to be lined.
I am sadly afraid that we are going to see a fairly huge increase in OUR water rates as a result of the new 10-inch distribution line that is replacing the 1930's pipe that is in place now. That old pipe is a constant maintenance nightmare for the crews. It is constantly developing leaks. Sometimes they are fairly major breaks, but they say that the system is rife with small leaks that cause the loss of a lot of water from the system. I will just be glad when they are done with that project. They have had the main road from here to Bristol and Blountville torn all to hell all summer with long lines and long waits at the points with flagmen. Now they are digging across the road in several places each day instead of parallel to it. There are holes with iron plates over them in several places every day and in a different place every day. The project has taken a lot longer than expected because they kept running into limestone ledges that require breaking up with a hydraulic jackhammer device on the boom of a large excavator before the pipe could be laid. It has been a six-mile stretch of multiple worksites with orange barrels, flag persons, iron plates, dirt, dust, and mud. It started in March and was supposed to be completed by September. There has been no such thing as the normal 5 or 6-minute trips to either Blountville or Bristol during their working hours.
At least in our case, we are going to see less interruption in service from frequent leak repairs, and better quality water with the new lines. We actually will be getting something tangible for our money.
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Post by clarencebunsen on Oct 25, 2019 11:57:16 GMT -5
Yes, lessusage means that all the fixed costs are shared by a smaller base.
One of the big problems that keeps getting ignored is Utica's ageing system. When arterial work was done a few years ago they uncovered wooden lines still in use. Bringing that system to 21st century standards will cost billions. A small part of that cost will probably be hidden in the hospital project.
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Post by Clipper on Oct 25, 2019 14:48:29 GMT -5
I imagine that with that, coupled with the costs of the parking garage, you guys will be paying for the collateral projects brought about directly in conjunction with the hospital project.
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Post by BHU on Oct 25, 2019 16:23:09 GMT -5
I imagine that with that, coupled with the costs of the parking garage, you guys will be paying for the collateral projects brought about directly in conjunction with the hospital project. No doubt about it. It will cost the county $1 million dollars a year for it's share of the bonding for the garage. Utica is also on the hook for it's share of the project which is also in the millions. So Utica residents will be paying for the garage thru county AND city taxes. I still think Picente & the rest of the crew wanted the hospital in Utica so they could stick it to city taxpayers & Picente wouldn't incur the wrath of suburban voters with county tax hikes to pay for the whole garage. Palmieri sold the city right down the river with his approval of this fiasco. I'll get even with the both of them come election day in the ballot box. When the project really takes off I'll bet $1000. that the hospital will want the land that the UPD sits on. And they'll get it. A new police station will cost $25 million dollars. Picente gonna help out? Not on your life.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2019 19:53:23 GMT -5
Yes but they do need a new police station this one is very old and not up to standard. I would like to see a new one built next to the current City Hall they may have to demolish Kennedy Plaza but now with all the lofts being built I doubt that be a problem. Eminent domain should be easy for that.
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Post by Ralph on Oct 26, 2019 0:04:10 GMT -5
The amazing Kreskin predicts that soon after the completion of the hospital and accompanying garage, Utica will be in need of either a brand new City Hall or Police station.
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Post by BHU on Oct 26, 2019 18:20:49 GMT -5
The amazing Kreskin predicts that soon after the completion of the hospital and accompanying garage, Utica will be in need of either a brand new City Hall or Police station. Sure, why not? You need a military grade Humvee to drive on half of city streets but we can bond for millions for this new parking garage. But wait, there's more! Visitors will have to pay to park in the newfangled garage! What more could we ask for?
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Post by Clipper on Oct 26, 2019 19:05:21 GMT -5
I remember paying to park in the garage at Saint Elizabeth's. There was paid parking at Faxton, and wasn't there a paid lot at St. Lukes also at one time?
I think it is sad that anyone has to pay to park in order to visit someone at a hospital. Hospitals here don't have paid parking, and they even have a shuttle to bring you to the desired door. There is always 3 or 4 of the 6 seat golf type carts running around the lot, and if you have a cell phone you can call and tell the person at the information desk where you are parked and they will send a shuttle to you. The different areas are identified by color and there are colored signs on the light poles to tell you which area you are parking in.
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Post by BHU on Oct 26, 2019 19:36:54 GMT -5
Yep, I remember paying to park at St. E's & Faxton. St. E's parking garage is a nightmare. More then once I've encountered some knucklehead driving in the wrong direction, despite the signs directing drivers how to get in or out of there. Lol
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2019 20:32:17 GMT -5
When my Mom was in hospital at St Joseph's in Syracuse having surgery and recovering their was paid parking except we had the ticket validated because of the surgery. We were there about 6 hours all together so I was glad parking ended up to be free. Even the next several days we also had free parking. Not sure why they would even charge for parking. I do not think it to be fair.
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Post by clarencebunsen on Oct 27, 2019 10:20:19 GMT -5
Yep, I remember paying to park at St. E's & Faxton. St. E's parking garage is a nightmare. More then once I've encountered some knucklehead driving in the wrong direction, despite the signs directing drivers how to get in or out of there. Lol Yes, it can be frightening backing out of a parking space there looking in the direction where traffic should come and have some idiot honk because he is driving the wrong way on a one way
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Post by clarencebunsen on Oct 27, 2019 10:32:01 GMT -5
When my Mom was in hospital at St Joseph's in Syracuse having surgery and recovering their was paid parking except we had the ticket validated because of the surgery. We were there about 6 hours all together so I was glad parking ended up to be free. Even the next several days we also had free parking. Not sure why they would even charge for parking. I do not think it to be fair. That was our experience when we took one of the little ones for surgery in Syracuse. We had our ticket for the parking garage validated by the hospital.
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