We have known the facts all along

Letters to the Editor

Dear Mayor Jaggers and Council Members:

Many of us who have followed the process of the City of Wimberley over the last decade carefully creating the plans, engineering, and setting up funding for construction of our own City-owned collection system and water treatment plant, have known the actual facts all along.

I am glad that you have been catching up on learning those actual facts, because if that is true, you will realize that to switch to Aqua Texas at this time in the process will end up costing the City far more than to construct our own treatment plant. An estimated not biased by the special interest pressures from Aqua Texas indicates that to go with Aqua Texas may end up costing the City $3-1/2 million more than the City-owned plant.

Similarly, by now you will be aware that Aqua Texas cannot be trusted not to raise rates considerably, as the PUC has almost always sides with them when they make such requests. Also, by now, you are well aware of the terrible reputation of this for-profit company. The far wiser alternative is to stay with local control, which must be accountable to the Citizens, as you are accountable.

You know that to turn control of our future over to a company not accountable to anyone but their national headquarters in Pennsylvania and their stockholders driven purely by profit motive, would prove most unwise.

Likewise you are aware that it will not be possible to get the required permits, or to get the paperwork and legalities done by August 22nd to switch to Aqua Texas without unleashing ruinous lawsuits and damaging delays. The City’s meticulous plan has taken years to complete, and is considered exemplary. We have not seen any finished plan from Aqua Texas, any solid document of proposal, or any written iron-cad guarantee that the company would allow us to retain our CCN.

You know that the wisest, most practical, most responsible course is to drop those misguided efforts to go with Aqua Texas, and to proceed with the sensible, practical, well-funded WWTP.

Sincerely,

Bruce P. Grether