Another idea

BY STEVE MCINTYRE

Since everyone seems to think that it is important to know that the City of Huntington is the last in the area to implement a storm-water user fee...let's use this to our advantage. Big industries in other cities are paying up to $20,000.00 per year in storm-water fees. Instead of burdening the few industries left in Huntington with similar costs, we could entice businesses and industries to re-locate HERE (where there is not a fee) and save them thousands and thousands of dollars. What a marketing tool this could be!

Comments

[Concerned]

That is an excellent idea, in theory, this has been the situation for how many years now and looking around at layoffs and plant closings (which I realize is a direct result of the national economy) it does not seem to be doing much good in terms of job attraction to date. This still does not even touch on the fact that the city is providing a service (storm water) to residents and businesses at a nearly 100% subsidized rate. For too many administrations, water and sewer revenues have been dipped into for unrelated expenses. The city needs storm water management in order to keep properties from being flooded and in turn create viable land for a variety of development and uses that will expand the tax base and help keep the city afloat. Maybe the city should just overlook flooding concerns, which seems to be the current mentality of Council, I mean if the Etna Ave. project will help alleviate flooding in the area and reduce the future cost of dealing with CSO’s then it seems like a viable project. If I remember, from the Herald-Press right that project would not be slated to start for a couple years and it seems like Council thinks the current economic situation will not improve by that time. If that is the case then the City has far more to worry about than how to pay off future debt, as the entire world will be in a depression.

[More Concerned]

Concerned, You should stop drinking the cool aid. There's a
world of difference between adding a reasonable stormwater "convenience" charge to the monthly utility bill and creating a whole new branch of local government. The stormwater fee proposal is based on junk science and relies on the ignorance of the public and city council in stormwater engineering. Even if not having a stormwater fee dosen't bring in new business, over taxing the existing ones, and driving them out won't help either. There are 1295 communities in Indiana,because 45 of them were gullible enough to fall for this scheme, does not mean we should too. Don't forget, the Etna Ave. project is brought to you from the same place as the stormwater cool aid proposal.

[Steve McIntyre]

The biggest owner of hard surfaces (where storm water runoff comes from) is the City of Huntington (Streets and alleys). Once the city pays it's "fair share", how much does it stand to gain?

[I didn't vote for Palin !!]

Unless I'm mistaken, and I'm rarely wrong, you have to be a homeowner in the city to run for Mayor. I'm just sayin'.

[One of those rare times]

Nope! Sorry Palin...just a city RESIDENT.

[Here's one for ya]

If we are in such dire financial straits, how long until McIntyre proposes City Council forego their salary for the year? After all, every Councilman devotes a few hours a month to be on City Council out of the good of their heart and devotion to public service...right Surely they do not see it as purely a political stepping-stone...

[Andy Zay]

Here's one for ya, not a bad idea! This should happen in concert with the mayor and his staff as well as the policemen, the firemen and every other city and county employee taking a cut of some sort. There are very few businessses that haven't laid off workers,cut wages, cut benefits to their employees in these trying times. What you are really suggesting is leadership! I guess we will see if there is anyone willing to lead in this community or if we will continue down the street with the "Music Man"(tax and spend and spend and spend)