Wastewater Loan Returns
The $1.3M loan for wastewater infrastructure is back on the agenda for tomorrow night. This is a difficult situation for sure. By all accounts our infrastructure needs improvements. Loans and grants are typical ways to fund these types of projects. This debt opportunity presented itself to the current administration following work done years ago. Mayor Lanman and Administrator Sauceda jumped on this plan to fix things by borrowing more than a million dollars. Don't forget that there is a $3.9M loan for drinking water that this administration will push forward immediately following this $1.3M loan.
The problem is that Lanman and Sauceda have not demonstrated good will in working with the public or the council. They have not provided a reasonable discussion of the scope of the work or funding altrernatives. They have refused to hold public hearings for citizens to comment. It would be as easy as scheduling a public hearing from 5:00 to 6:00 before a regular meeting to allow people to ask questions. Instead, they go to Austin and come back without a report but with a $1.3M loan form that the city is supposed to sign for them without explanation.
We get scare tactic information from Sauceda and the engineers. We are told that we have many citations, but Sauceda cannot produce them. We received warnings when we got our permit renewals, but Sauceda keeps the details to himself. What exactly are the warnings about? Rainwater overflow, discharge water quality, flow rate? If he would share more information, he could get the public's support. Then we have Sauceda and the engineer scaring us that we may not be eligible for zero interest next year. Median income is headed up, but the likelihood that we will be a prosperous community next year is slim. Again, show us the numbers. We are told how much a 4% or 6% loan would cost us, but it seems that we would qualify for one or two percent in the unlikely case that 0% is not available next year.
It was never made clear in the meeting that this is a $1.68M project with hopes of getting $413,000 in grants. The project has two phases: a million-dollar sewage treatement plant and $700,000 in replacing old sewer pipes in town. One frustration is that Lanman and Sauceda are not pursuing proactive solutions to our infrastructure problem. If this loan had not been dropped in their laps, they would be doing nothing. They are doing nothing to investigate grants. Marathon has a sewage treatment plant grant.
Compounding this problem is the fact that the lease on the treatement plant land will end before the loan is paid back. If we don't negotiate a new agreement, we will be forced to build an entirely new plant as soon as we pay this one off.
Council faces a tough decision. Our infrastrucure is antiquated and needs replacement. The working relationship between council and Lanman/Sauceda has deteriorated to the point that everything is a battle and nothing gets done. The citizens are concerned because Lanman and Sauceda
If council chooses to delay the loan application, then they need to come up with another plan to address our aging wastewater system. If council chooses to proceed with the loan, they need to come up with plans to pursue other grants and a lease extension. The worst thing (and most likely) is to take the easy money of the loan, spend it, and neglect the big picture.
The problem is that Lanman and Sauceda have not demonstrated good will in working with the public or the council. They have not provided a reasonable discussion of the scope of the work or funding altrernatives. They have refused to hold public hearings for citizens to comment. It would be as easy as scheduling a public hearing from 5:00 to 6:00 before a regular meeting to allow people to ask questions. Instead, they go to Austin and come back without a report but with a $1.3M loan form that the city is supposed to sign for them without explanation.
We get scare tactic information from Sauceda and the engineers. We are told that we have many citations, but Sauceda cannot produce them. We received warnings when we got our permit renewals, but Sauceda keeps the details to himself. What exactly are the warnings about? Rainwater overflow, discharge water quality, flow rate? If he would share more information, he could get the public's support. Then we have Sauceda and the engineer scaring us that we may not be eligible for zero interest next year. Median income is headed up, but the likelihood that we will be a prosperous community next year is slim. Again, show us the numbers. We are told how much a 4% or 6% loan would cost us, but it seems that we would qualify for one or two percent in the unlikely case that 0% is not available next year.
It was never made clear in the meeting that this is a $1.68M project with hopes of getting $413,000 in grants. The project has two phases: a million-dollar sewage treatement plant and $700,000 in replacing old sewer pipes in town. One frustration is that Lanman and Sauceda are not pursuing proactive solutions to our infrastructure problem. If this loan had not been dropped in their laps, they would be doing nothing. They are doing nothing to investigate grants. Marathon has a sewage treatment plant grant.
Compounding this problem is the fact that the lease on the treatement plant land will end before the loan is paid back. If we don't negotiate a new agreement, we will be forced to build an entirely new plant as soon as we pay this one off.
Council faces a tough decision. Our infrastrucure is antiquated and needs replacement. The working relationship between council and Lanman/Sauceda has deteriorated to the point that everything is a battle and nothing gets done. The citizens are concerned because Lanman and Sauceda
- refuse to share information or hold a public hearing;
- refuse to explore grant opportunities;
- refuse to investigate a lease extension prior to a loan application, and
- refuse to adopt and follow a budget before borrowing a million dollars.
If council chooses to delay the loan application, then they need to come up with another plan to address our aging wastewater system. If council chooses to proceed with the loan, they need to come up with plans to pursue other grants and a lease extension. The worst thing (and most likely) is to take the easy money of the loan, spend it, and neglect the big picture.
posted by RobC at 1:39 PM
5 Comments:
The following is from one of Rob's earlier articles following the last council meeting. You will note that the preselected engineer has thoughtfully prepared an application for a USDA grant to go with the loan. I can't remember if USDA grants have administrative fees which go to the grantwriter, which in this case would be Mr. Pink and not Flo. If there is no administrative fee, I do believe the city will have to pay him because I don't if the loan technically allows engineering fees to be paid from the loan funds for grantwriting. Also note the engineer's comment that "Flo was going to put it on the next meeting's agenda." Well, here it is the next meeting and USDA grant is not on the agenda. You would think Flo would be flakking the possibility of this grant as hard as he could to try and buttress his appeal for the loan. Do you think Flo even remembers there IS a USDA grant?
"I (Rob)received some information from Mike Pink about the USDA funds, "USDA-RD funding applications are accepted from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 of each year. Our thoughts were that a grant/loan package somewhere in the 25/75% range would be possible. This was actually the first funding source we recommended that the City pursue. We prepared an application and an engineering contract (req'd by USDA-RD w/ the application) for the City to submit. I believe that Flo intended to present it to council at the next meeting."
Robert Arber, we heard there was some scrambling around today over at the pool. Wonder what that was all about?
I don't know whatz up at the pool. From what I can tell this Admin (both) don't care for volunteer help, wonder why--too hard to boss them??--too hard to fire?? My interest is simple I like to swim, with this new solar heating system why not utilize it?? Lets help Marfa be healthy!! Was wondering:: if Florencio S. lived here and liked to swim or exercise would there be so much foot dragging?? We handed him a formal letter and an excellent draft of liability release at the end of October. The new solar panels should mean inexpensive warming of the pool. a group of us swimmers have offered to help maintain the equipment as well as keeping the pool area clean.
Robert Arber.. no wonder there are "Malcontents"
robert - will you be at the meeting tonight? it would be great if you brought up this subject so we can all hear his explanation for this. many people would like to use the pool and would probably support a volunteer group asking for what is going on with this effort. thanks in advance
i know there were a few people around Marfa with "malcontents" caps - i guess the main group of them. i would love to see these caps made available for anyone who feels they fit into this category, then see all of them sitting in the front rows of each council meeting and watching that group, with caps, growing larger and larger each time. i want one!
Post a Comment
<< Home