Dear Editor,
I offer my personal observations from the June 13, 2011 Town Council Meeting of Stevensville. The primary reason for my attendance was Item B under Unfinished Business – Waste Water Project Bond Discussion. Mr. Dan Johnson from Rural Development (Federal/State Program) and Mr. Dan Semmons (Dorsey Whitney Bond Counsel) were on the agenda to express their concern regarding sewer fee collection rates. They felt the fees recently adopted were adequate to meet the debt service payments IF the bonds were issued. The issue was since adoption of the new fees, it appeared that collection was about 68% of what it should be. They pointed out that the Town had already begun construction and costs would be due and payable. The Town was depending on the bond being issued to pay those bills when they became due. Bond Counsel did not have a comfort level high enough for him to recommend issuance of the bond. Bond Counsel wanted to work with the Stevensville clerks to make sure he was not misunderstanding the current situation. Within a month Bond Counsel will need to recommend the issuance of the bond or not. If he does not recommend the bond be issued, the Town will still have to pay the bills already incurred. According to Mayor Barnett, the Town had taken action by sending out letters to those who were late requiring they pay current. Another letter is to be sent out spelling out the time frames the ratepayer will have before service will be shutoff.
This crisis appeared to be lost on at least one of Town Council. Councilman Mullan asked Mr. Johnson, “What would be the consequences if the bond were not issued?”. It is nothing short of amazing that this Council lost track of an item this important and failed to understand it was this important. In my opinion it is their job, not just that of the Mayor. Council failed to know the amount of expense incurred to date. Council failed to know Stevensville was behind on collections of sewer fees. Now they have thirty days to convince Rural Development that they can keep collections on schedule. I would suggest that Council persons Groninger, Holcomb and Mullan spend more time following up on this issue and the budget and less time trying to make the Mayor look small (Groninger/Mullan) or when the snowplow would be working (Mullan) or raising hangar fees for the airport (Groninger). I would suggest 32% or less of the citizens are putting 100% of the citizens at jeopardy and I plead with everyone to do their part.
Clayton D. Floyd Jr.
Stevensville