Still big water issues

Dear editor:

A headline from The Sentinel-Record stated “Tensions ease in water fight” was a political smokescreen! The article only addressed the quantity of water available, which can be easily discussed with the available data on gallons available, production availability, sewer capacity and emergency reserves. It is a finite number but it is also interesting that over the past two to three years the city has approved (and are now built) four new hotels along Central Avenue and the fifth is now in final negotiations. Water shortage?

The other important issue, now swept way under the rug, is the city’s unfounded water rates for county residents. This is an old, serious complaint that the present quorum court apparently does not want to continue to recognize.

Several years ago the city brought in one of their infamous “consultants” a Mr. Jackson from the Economist company. His “study” was a 10-page history of Hot Springs and then three short proposals. Proposal number one was a 10% cost increase in water rates for county residents, number 2 was a 25% increase, and number three was a 50% increase. During a Q&A of the proposal (in 2009) I asked the consultant “what records, trip sheets, man-hour logs or other data did you use to compile your proposals?” His answer was “We did not count paper clips.” The city board had no objections nor any questions about his methodology! They immediately selected the 50% increase, which is what we live with now.

The city has done very well with this deal; they had made enough profit from county residents’ water bills that 18 months ago they were able to take about $1 million from the water/sewer funds to help purchase their new police radio system.

Our Garland County Quorum Court needs to work hard with their constituents to resolve this huge inequity, not waste the funds that were set aside to find a fair solution, and spend less time at the Republican social club.

Jim Pumphrey Garland County