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ASD questions still need answers |
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Wednesday, 05 September 2007 |
With a major decision looming on the potential future of Taber's water supply, there appears to be no answers to some very important questions.
Fears have been ever present the deal with EPCOR, should it get signed in the future, would in effect place our water in the hands of a for-profit private corporation.
Despite town comments to the contrary, there is still concern in the community.
When it all boils down to it, residents must ask themselves one question - do you feel comfortable with a corporation, whose main goal is to turn a profit, in control of your water services?
Certainly, as some other communities would attest to, their relationships with EPCOR have been positive, and the services delivered have been good.
On the other side of the coin after all, is the fact these corporations must provide good service, or risk losing the business of Taber and other communities looking into the Alternative Services Delivery model, and EPCORin particular.
For some, however, this "experiment" with something as precious and vital as a water supply simply goes too far.
Albertans, still gun shy over corporate control of our electrical utilities under former Premier Ralph Klein's failed deregulation scheme, are beginning to be more and more skeptical of plans to do similar things in other sectors.
Deregulation, after all, has resulted in higher costs for Albertans, who are already taxed with ever-rising fuel prices and housing and rental costs which have also gone through the roof.
Fears of increased prices in any other sector cause worry, and for good reason, as many families are reaching the tipping point.
However, there have been assurances from town councillors the town will remain in control of the price structures.
With that in mind, one has to ask what will happen should EPCORlobby the town for increases in rates, and how aggressively they will be rebuffed by the town.
Those questions, however, pale in comparison to the biggest ones being pondered by residents.
How can EPCOR build its facility, under the ASDmodel, for about half of what it would cost under the traditional method?
How can Associated Engineering, which gave the town an estimate near $30 million under the traditional approach, at the same time be part of a group bidding for the contract under the ASDmodel, a bid the town has confirmed was substantially less than $30 million?
Attempts by the Times to reach Associated Engineering about these questions have not been successful the last few weeks.
Hopefully, someone will have an answer for this question tonight at the first open house on the issue. Another identical open house will be held Sept. 17.
For those residents wanting answers to these questions and perhaps others, now is the time to attend these open houses.
The town requires input, support for or protest against this proposal in order to make a decision representative of the entire taxpayer base.
Some, who want this decision to be placed on the Oct. 15 election ballot, also need to voice their opinion now.
Soon, it will be too late. The town has repeatedly assured residents no decision has yet been made.
With that in mind, the right amount of input can still sway council's decision one way or the other. |
