Concerned Citizens Stops Cottonwood Council in Water Grab

The Verde Independent ^ | 8-6-04 | Angela De Welles

[drdemars]

Citizens group continue fight against city water untility. Their purpose was to discuss the proposed acquisition of three local water companies by the city of Cottonwood. Doug Evenson, Chairmen of Concerned Citizens Committee, told the council they were breaking the law and what they planned on doing was illeagal.

[drdemars]

Concerned Citizens committee newly formed generated 1200 members in two days of people who are against the coucil takeover of five water companies in Verde valley and raising water rates 300 per cent. Help us fight this Evil Empire http://c-c-cinc.com

[Bikers4Bush]

I go to the site but can't find that article.

[drdemars]

article is at http://www.verdevalleynews.com

[TheOtherOne]

But where is the specific article you are citing. I cannot find it either.

[drdemars]

Have contacted reporter to see if she can put it on there web page. Sorry for delay since it is story just out today.

[drdemars]

Have contacted reporter to see if she can put it on there web page. Sorry for delay since it is story just out today.

[RightWhale]

the coucil takeover of five water companies in Verde valley and raising water rates 300 per cent

Here they sold the municipal water utility to the private sector. It was noisy, too. The city still has police, fire, building code, and stormdrains. Not much left of the city.

[drdemars]

Site now up on story of council backing down.We are in a public outrage at Cottonwoods city council boondogle. The citizens are very angry right now and this story and the nefarious actions of the council will continue to create anger and action steps to remove the whole council by recall. Nothing is worse than a group who think they know better than the citizens they serve. This is an ego trip by a crazed council

[drdemars]

Ping to top

[RightWhale]

they would be breaking state law if they went ahead to issue bonds without an election

The bonds here go to the ballot. Seems like they all pass, but that is a different issue. There is no way the city could enact a bond that the taxpayers would have to pay off without the approval of the voters. Sounds like the property management department is getting rambunctious.

[drdemars]

Yes, that is what we are stating also. It has to be voted on by public. There attorney says they can get around that. In other words they know it would be voted down. The groundswell of anger here is enormous and I believe the present city council have very little time left in office. That is if the people have their way. We inundated the small council with standing room only concerned Citizens with badges denoting our affiliation and the council took notice believe me. We are growing in numbers and can use any persons concerned about our plight nationwide.

[drdemars]

Water fight ping

[RightWhale]

There attorney says they can get around that.

Maybe they can get around it, but in their position of public responsibility they should not. There seems to be an ethical failure. Drop the ethics bomb on them, that's what it is for, and you can cite John Rawls' Justice as Fairness. I know Rawls was taken for a socialist, but his ethics of public office is powerful.

[drdemars]

RightWhale, Thanks for tip on Justice of Fairness. This could put a lot of pressure on present city council since their attorney from Flagstaff that specializes in so called revenue bonds stated he didn't need a vote by citizens to fund the purchase of water companies.