Elwar
11-30-2009, 02:52 PM
Ok, I just got a notice that our water company was holding elections for directors in January and for anyone wanting to run to submit petitions with signatures by next week.
I've only been living here for a year and as my town is unincorporated we have no government entities other than the county. And the only thing I thought was screwed up in this town was the water company. I'd always assumed that it was a private company with a monopoly which I didn't feel was any better than a government monopoly, so I was working adamantly on trying to get my home off-grid as far as water is concerned.
I did a bit of research and found that the Hudson Water Works is a co-op, owned by the residents who have water service with them. The biggest qualm I have with them is that if you're late on your payment or if your payment gets lost, they come out and lock up your meter. Then they charge you $600 to get it turned back on. Also, if you want a meter put in it costs over $3k to have one installed.
I only found a few articles but I guess two years ago a bunch of home owners tried to overthrow the incumbants because of the insane charges and lost 52-48. It sounds like there's some good ol' boy stuff going on with the director paying his brother's company to do some work.
The things I could see myself bringing to the table would be lack of corruption and perhaps a better handle on technology than some of the older directors (one complaint was about some $30k software that they purchased).
Ideally I'd love to lay down two extra water pipes to each home and allow competition but that'd be a long term goal.
I can't really find any information though about the duties of the director (just that there is a board of 7 with a president). If it's a full time position, there's no way that I would take it.
I've only been living here for a year and as my town is unincorporated we have no government entities other than the county. And the only thing I thought was screwed up in this town was the water company. I'd always assumed that it was a private company with a monopoly which I didn't feel was any better than a government monopoly, so I was working adamantly on trying to get my home off-grid as far as water is concerned.
I did a bit of research and found that the Hudson Water Works is a co-op, owned by the residents who have water service with them. The biggest qualm I have with them is that if you're late on your payment or if your payment gets lost, they come out and lock up your meter. Then they charge you $600 to get it turned back on. Also, if you want a meter put in it costs over $3k to have one installed.
I only found a few articles but I guess two years ago a bunch of home owners tried to overthrow the incumbants because of the insane charges and lost 52-48. It sounds like there's some good ol' boy stuff going on with the director paying his brother's company to do some work.
The things I could see myself bringing to the table would be lack of corruption and perhaps a better handle on technology than some of the older directors (one complaint was about some $30k software that they purchased).
Ideally I'd love to lay down two extra water pipes to each home and allow competition but that'd be a long term goal.
I can't really find any information though about the duties of the director (just that there is a board of 7 with a president). If it's a full time position, there's no way that I would take it.