The NLR City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed sewer rate increases at the regular City Council meeting on August 27th.  The public hearing will not be held on August 13th since Mr. Mills, the NLR Wastewater Director will be out of town on that date.

The only problem with this plan is that in order to get the sewer rate increase on the October bill, the Ciity Council will have to vote on the rate increase on August 27th as well.  So does it really matter what the citizen's say on August 27th.  Even if there is a better idea or a majority of the citizen's want a different rate structure, how will there be time to make the necessary analyses and changes to the rate structure?  This sends a message that the City Council may not really care about citizen input.  This perception appears to be confirmed by what seems to be a majority of the Council members sponsoring the sewer rate increase legislation. Is this a done deal even before the public hearing?

So Why Have the Public Hearing? 

I believe this council and Mayor do care about the citizens and welcome their input. The decision to hold the public hearing on August 27th and legilsation sponsors was made after a very long, three hour council meeting Monday night with some very tired council members.  In his defense, the Mayor asked two or three times if this schedule is what the council wanted. The council did not object. Hopefully the Mayor will reconsider and hold the public hearing on August 13th, even without Mr. Mills, so the City can at least consider citizen comments and input.  Let's not send the wrong message by holding the public hearing and vote on the same night.

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