Is anyone else having trouble with this math? A $17 Million bond for $3 Million is savings over 5 years and an additional cost to users of $11 Million over 50 years. What am I missing?

These numbers don't add up fo rme either. The City Council spent all of 5 mins ( maybe less ) on Monday night deciding to approve this allocation of 500k. There was NO discussion or questions from anyone about the need , the cost, or an alternate idea. Fuzzy math is so darn inconvenient when it is late (the last agenda item) and they want to go home.

I'm sorry, but "by using water from Big Creek and other local groundwater sources, the city reduces its reliance on Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River" makes minimal sense to me. Big Creek feeds right into the Chattahoochee within WALKING DISTANCE from the plant. Sucking more water up from Big Creek reduces the amount that flows INTO the Chattahoochee.

The math simply doesn't add up. I find it funny that a plant manager knows more about the costs of maintenance of a water plant than a firm that exclusively deals with water treatment plants. What someone needs to do is to hire a lawyer to represent the 5600 residents + businesses affected. It's sad that East Roswell cronies are doing everything in their power to devastate Western Roswell.

It took Council 5 minutes to decide to spend 550K on this plan but a whole hour was spent discussing 50K from a developer for a turn lane? Back to business as usual post election-spending at will and without any fiscal justifications for a project.

It was more like 2 hrs and they also discussed in great detail whether or not a "path" connecting an existing subdivision to a new one would be pervious or impervious surface? If there should be a gate with an arbor or not? And this was the third time that these 2 entities have appeared before council because they can't agree on who wants what? But as Mr.Reissig has said this will affect the residents of "old town" Roswell for years to come. Ask Lee Fleck, who ran for council, to show you the real numbers. He has presented them several times to council and they are in denial or maybe that is where they think we will get our water from "de Nile? Since the projected costs from Fulton County water are less why aren't we just buying it all from them? Again, check Lee Fleck's costs and numbers. Too many questions and not enough (actually NONE) from Council or Staff.

Time to set up districts in Roswell and elect a representative from each of them. In the old days when Roswell was small, council represented all the citizens. Now it is too big and no one to look after the older parts of Roswell which are the reason people move here . They are looking for an established, permanent city with a sense of continuity (not just historical by the way). And surely the newer subdivisions are just like anywhere USA.

Because there is a limit of characters permitted each comment my response will be in the next two sections:

First and foremost taxpayers are NOT going to pay for this new plant.

Second, Taxpayers are NOT going to have to pay off the $17,000,000 “revenue” bond that is forthcoming. The Roswell City Council can establish a revenue bond unilaterally without the input of voters. And candidly the likelihood of significant funding from Georgia Environmental Finance Authority is minimal.

Third, taxpayers are NOT going to have to pay the long-term $33,000,000 sustainability costs to maintain & improve this new 2.5 MGD water plant.

Roswell’s Water Treatment Plant (WTP) on Dobbs Street exists within the budget of the Water Fund. This enterprise fund is self-funded by those who get their water from the City of Roswell and they and they alone will have to cover ALL COSTS associated with the new water plant on into the future.

That is correct; all the above costs will fall on the backs of the 5,600 water customers who get their water from the city. YES, 5,600 residents of West Roswell will pay the $33,000,000 !!

Continued below
Lee Fleck

Continued from above

Currently the City produces 1.2 million gallons of water per day (MGD). To meet the needs of its customers the city currently buys 50% of its total daily needs of 2.5 MGD from Fulton County and pays Fulton County the same amount for the water the city purchases as its costs for the city to produce water. http://www.roswellgov.com/index.aspx?NID=1021

That number is around $2.25 per 1000 gallons.

Roswell water customers just look at your individual water bill and you will see the additional costs you are being charges.

So here your dilemm. Yes, there will be inflation to the cost of water as noted by Mr. Moring, whether it is from the Dobbs Street plant or from Fulton County. So, that is the only increase in the cost of water from Fulton County going forward - simple, old, every day, inflation.

However, to convert exclusively to water produced solely by the city, those 5,600 residents will be paying $33,000,000 through 2050 JUST FOR THE COST OF THE WATER ALONE .

Add to that the Administration and Distribution costs, which are within the Water Fund also, and which currently totals $1,661,740.00 per year, and the bottom line per customer is on average going to be approximately $ 415.00 per year.

Now, the average inflation rate is around 2.5% annually. So over the 50 year life of the new water plant the $415 bill will more than double! Ouch!
Continued
Lee Fleck
Lee Fleck

Continued from above

It’s not rocket science. The numbers have been worked out by the consultants the city paid to analyze the City’s Water system and who provided that analysis in the Master Water System Plan dated June 2010.

During the noted Council meeting Mr. Moring committed to public hearings.

I will be there as a water professional to provide citizens with the facts

Lee Fleck

Lee, Can you help me with this question: What is the total estimated cost for water per 1000 gallons if Roswell water customers got their water from Fulton County alone as opposed to Roswell's water plant over the time it will take to pay off this bond?

This isn't adding up for me either. Perhaps one of the sitting council members could comment and help us understand this better. We have to be missing a critical part of all this.

The bottom line on this proposed Water Treatment Plant is that the clients who use this source of water will be tied in to a 17M+ bond without their consent. And, the true and total costs of this "utility" are not being completely and clearly disclosed to them or to the rest of us.

We need to DEMAND from the City of Roswell a complete , open and transparent review of these numbers. They cannot put this item as the last one on the council agenda so that is heard at 1115pm.
They need to send a letter to every recipient of city water and let them know the consequences of this decision. I was told that the City wants to do this to remain "independent". We can see how well being independent has worked in Metro Atlanta - just look at transportation, water management, indigent health care. It is a mess.

Thomas, The sitting council members don't understand these numbers so they defer to the Public Works director who uses gibberish to discuss the issue. They tune out.

Stuart Moring offered some clarification on the subject today, I've put up a post including the information he sent me. http://patch.com/A-nPvx

So to clarify, the new water treatment plant will be paid for by the Roswell utility customers who are a total of 5900 residences. The total number of addresses in Roswell exceeds 27,000. So if you get your water from Roswell instead of Fulton county, expect to be paying a LOT of money for this service. If water from Fulton county is good enough for 22,000 addresses in Roswell why isn't it good enough for the other 5900? Mayor Wood has stated that he wants to remain independent of Fulton County...too late. So be on notice, if you live in the center of Roswell - not East or West you are going to be paying big money for this independence. Note: no one except Mr. Igleheart lives in the area to be affected by this water treatment plant.

The best analysis with out further transparency on the part of the city indicates that the bottom line will be that the average resident can expect a $20 per month increase in the water bill.

20.00 per month X12 months = 240.00 per year plus the additional storm water management fee, the meter maintenance fee and the cost for sewer. But this additional 20.00 per month is only for the lucky 5600 people who live in the oldest part of Roswell. Those who moved in later and rely on Fulton County won't be stung with these fees. Sorry , this doesn't work for me and I am sure it won't for my neighbors.

Janet,
Supposedly the storm water management / utility fee have been neutralized (for now) with an equivalent reduction in the Solid Waste (trash) fees.

And as of today there is $ 6.5 million in the Solid Waste Fund reserves of which $5 million is excess (from over billing).
Its a matter of public record on page 31 of the FY2012 budget (http://www.roswellgov.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1974) at the top right hand of the page.
Candidly the city could stop collecting trash fees for the next 8 months before the excess would be liquidated!

I have seen only increases in my Solid Waste fees. What used to be 11.00 per month is now 22.00 per month. In addition, my bill shows a storm water management fee and a meter maintenance fee. Since I compost, recycle etc, I have less than 1 can of garbage per month. And 1 can of recycle. I am giving the city a golden egg every month because I am a careful resuser, recycler.. Same with water. I don't believe any of the numbers from Roswell anymore. Not since the City Council voted to use money allocated for mass transit projects for other projects in the city so that they look fiscally responsible and hope to get reelected. It is called CYA.

I disagree with this totally. And I disagree with the use of parkland - specifically Field #2 at Waller Park Extenstion - to put a water tower. The reason we bought our home was because the park was behind it and no one could build there....except the City it seems. They can take this parkland for a water tower to service 5600 homes, but won't take parkland for a Fire Station? Big Problem here.