Note: This is a copy of a letter that Oak Ridge resident Martin McBride wrote to City Council prior to a Monday night meeting. During that meeting, Council approved the borrowing of $18 million in low-interest state loans to pay for sewer system work meant to comply with a federal order.
Dear City Council Members,
A sizable increase in the Oak Ridge city debt will be placed before the Council at a special meeting this coming Monday.
Passing this debt so hurriedly:
- Imposes a significant debt increase with minimal Council thought or discussion. Such increases should be treated with respect, considering the city’s very high debt load. Using a quick special meeting to push through such a large increase seems reckless.
- Effectively ends negotiations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The rush to pass this debt suggests that the Council views the increase as “no big deal.” Why should EPA negotiate with Oak Ridge if the Council so easily passes-the-buck to city ratepayers? The sewer upgrades are expected to cost city businesses and residents between $40 to $50 million dollars or more.
- Hurts the environment, because it significantly overspends on a project with minimal environmental benefit. The city has limited resources. Overspending robs funding from activities with much greater environmental benefit. In addition, the excessive upgrade cost has driven the city’s utility rates so high that Oak Ridge utility rates are no longer competitive. This makes it difficult for Oak Ridge businesses to compete. Without increasing business revenue, the city’s wonderful green initiatives and its green spaces could be put at risk.
- Places responsibility for the high cost of the project on the Council, rather than EPA. The city staff has done their part. It’s you who will have decided to take the easy way out, rather than deal with the issue. Your names will be associated with this debt—not EPA.
The debt increase should be deferred.
Martin McBride
Oak Ridge
Steve Mason says
Well let’s see. Let’s review Mr McBride’s points. I’ll break it up to keep each one short and to the point.
This issue has been talked about for several months. The decision on the loan was even postponed for a month so that a contingent from the city could travel to Atlanta to personally meet with the EPA. The two city council members (Mr. Hope and Ms. Garcia-Garland), who had previously expressed reservations prior to that meeting apparently were convinced enough in Atlanta to come back and vote to proceed. There has been no lack of City Council thought and consideration.
Steve Mason says
Item 2, 3 and 4 (my comments seem to be short enough)
Somehow I think that when Mr. McBride was a “regulator”, he wouldn’t have taken too kindly to nuclear power plant operators wanting to continue negotiations ad nauseam. Nor do I think that he would have been very concerned that those operators would have to pass the costs of fixes on to their ratepayers. And it was reported after the Atlanta meeting that Oak Ridge’s water and sewer rates are in line with the average rates in the southeast. Lastly, this will always be remembered as having been done because of threatened EPA enforcement action.