Toledomayor: Mywaterplan is onlyway

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz could not attend Monday’s regional water meeting with suburban leaders, but a policy adviser madehis position clear on his behalf: Kapszukiewicz’s plan for forming a regional water system is the only one he is willing to pursue.

It’s adecision that suburban leaders called “a disappointing outcome” aftermore than two years of negotiations with Toledoofficials to try to establish a regional water authority thatwould equalize water rates and plan for future capitalimprovementsattheCollins ParkWater Treatment Plant.

“It’s more important to Toledo politicians that they control the water assets than to cooperate on more efficient water, safer water and also regional cooperation as a whole,” SylvaniaMayor Craig Stough said. “That’s very disappointing thatwe’re back to square one.”

But Kapszukiewicz doesn’t viewhisdoublingdownonhis planasasetback, asmanysuburban leaders do. He believes it’s the only route to regional waterToledo CityCouncil will back, and it gives suburban customers ameaningful voice in the rate-setting process.

“People have been talking about regional water for not justtwoyears, butfor20years. We are taking that conversationandputtingitintoaction,” he said in a phone interview from Boston, where he was attending theU.S. Conference of Mayors. “What shouldn’t be lost in this process is there will be a regional water system by the end of this year, andthat isbecause of the leadership and action of the city of Toledo.”

Cityofficialsaretakingsteps to form a regional water commission rather than moving forward with a Toledo Area Water Authority that leaders, includingKapszukiewicz, pledged in January to form. Thecommission will set water rates and develop a capital improvement plan for the water system, but city councilwould ultimately have veto power over the commission’s recommendations.

Kapszukiewicz said the commission would be composed of utility experts representing Toledo and each suburban community that buys its water, not elected officials. One key difference from the TAWA plan is that Toledo will continue to own both the water treatment systemand the debt that comes with it, rather than TAWA.

Suburban leaders onMonday also expressed concern that allowingToledo’s council to have a veto authority over the regional water commission’s decisions would leave suburban water users vulnerable to unfair rate hikes.

“Thegoal is a contract that’s fair and reasonable, yet in years past that has not happened,” Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken said. “There has not been fair, reasonable andwell-thought-out contracts. Contractshavebeen used as aweapon in the past, and that’s why everyone is scared of it.”

ToledoRegionalChamberof Commerce PresidentWendy GramzasaidshefearsToledo’s positionmay cause area communities to fracture rather than work together, which could have a negative impact on economic development.

If the suburbs don’t join Kapszukiewicz’s new commission, then Toledo water users’ bills likely will spike.