Meet the Candidates Night for Waterloo

[nathandiehl]

There are three open seats to this year's Town Council election, and six candidates vying for those 3 seats. Those candidates are as follows:

Bill Hubartt - R (I)
Al Shuman - D (I)
Nathan Diehl - R (I)
David Bolton - R
Sean Bruening - D
Brad Thompson - D

There will be a Meet the Candidates Night sponsored by the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce on Monday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m. at either the Historic Depot or the Fire Department Community Room (depending on construction in the area).

I hope everyone who makes the great Town of Waterloo their home will make an effort to attend this meeting. It is always informative.

[nathandiehl]

If anyone in Waterloo has any questions for me, I'd be happy to answer them here on the Fence Post, but I do have two stipulations:
1. I will not discuss past or present personnel issues in specifics. Personnel issues are protected by privacy laws and I refuse to violate them. If you have general questions regarding personnel, I will be happy to oblige.
2. I will not get in a debate with anyone. I'll simply answer questions and you are free to disagree, but I won't debate back and forth.

(And also, if anyone living in Waterloo would like to show support for my candidacy by allowing me to place a sign in your yard, please send me a PM with your address and I'll be happy to get one out soon. Thank you!)

[HoosierHelen]

If anyone in Waterloo has any questions for me, I'd be happy to answer them here on the Fence Post, but I do have two stipulations:
1. I will not discuss past or present personnel issues in specifics. Personnel issues are protected by privacy laws and I refuse to violate them. If you have general questions regarding personnel, I will be happy to oblige.
2. I will not get in a debate with anyone. I'll simply answer questions and you are free to disagree, but I won't debate back and forth.

(And also, if anyone living in Waterloo would like to show support for my candidacy by allowing me to place a sign in your yard, please send me a PM with your address and I'll be happy to get one out soon. Thank you!)

I don't live in Waterloo, however, I do send you best wishes for the upcoming election. Good character, level heads, and honesty are important values for our elected representatives. Your postings on here inform me that you bring those values together in your personality.

[nathandiehl]

I don't live in Waterloo, however, I do send you best wishes for the upcoming election. Good character, level heads, and honesty are important values for our elected representatives. Your postings on here inform me that you bring those values together in your personality.

Thank you for your kind words Helen!

[nathandiehl]

I just wanted to pop an update on here to remind anyone interested that the Meet the Candidates event hosted by the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce is tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Depot.

I really hope to get the chance to meet some of you at the event and get the opportunity to share my vision for the future of Waterloo.

[blue adept]

Not from Waterloo, but I hope you do well!

[nathandiehl]

Not from Waterloo, but I hope you do well!

Thanks Blue. I appreciate it!
Nathan.

[Mike_Walter]

At your "Meet the Candidates Night," one candidate for town council said that if elected he would look into why Waterloo’s water and sewer rates are high.

A good part of the answer possibly lies in the sheer cost of upgrading your systems to current standards. I have the impression that Waterloo has dragged its feet on this over the years, and improvements do not get cheaper with time. But another reason just might be because Waterloo unwisely "opted out" of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission's oversight process several years ago. Had Waterloo residents resisted that move with a simple petition to place deregulation on the ballot in a referendum like the one Auburn held in 1998, they probably would have defeated the opt-out and today would have the benefits of having their consultants' recommendations reviewed by the staffs of both the IURC and the Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor.

Waterloo's registered voters can return its water utility to IURC jurisdiction by following the procedures stated in http://www.ai.org/legislative/ic/cod...#IC8-1.5-3-9.6. They should investigate the advantages of doing so.

[nathandiehl]

At your "Meet the Candidates Night," one candidate for town council said that if elected he would look into why Waterloo’s water and sewer rates are high.

A good part of the answer possibly lies in the sheer cost of upgrading your systems to current standards. I have the impression that Waterloo has dragged its feet on this over the years, and improvements do not get cheaper with time.

That Meet the Candidates Night was not a debate, or I would have addressed this at that point.

But the FACT is that Waterloo does NOT have the highest water or sewer rates around.

It doesn't help that The Star hasn't done a story on current water and sewer rates to inform the public of the facts.
I challenge KPC to run a front-page, above-fold story on current rates. The Star is responsible for the general consensus that Waterloo has the highest rates around because they ran multiple front-page, above-fold articles back when Waterloo had the highest rates (which was because we were NOT dragging our feet).
In the past 3 years, most communities around us--including Auburn--have raise rates significantly. Waterloo hasn't. Where's an updated story, KPC? You can help stop the spread of mis-information, but will you? That's the question...

[nathandiehl]

I challenge KPC to run a front-page, above-fold story on current rates.

Any news from KPC on this?

[bigbass]

Story, or no story, doesn't really matter to me, I'm looking outside of Waterloo for my next place of residency.
My average water-bill in Waterloo has been $80.00 per month for the past year. I have paid as high as $110.00 and as low as $65.00(yes, that's water only). I have a small apartment with 2 people living in it. I looked at a house in Avilla last night. I asked for a copy of their last months water bill, $22.00. That was all I needed to see. The single most ironic part of the high priced Waterloo water to me has been the "floaties"(little white things that look like tiny flakes of skin) you get with each glass of it. I wonder if it would be cheaper if they didn't have to put the "floaties" in it? I'm extremely unimpressed.

[nathandiehl]

Story, or no story, doesn't really matter to me, I'm looking outside of Waterloo for my next place of residency.
My average water-bill in Waterloo has been $80.00 per month for the past year. I have paid as high as $110.00 and as low as $65.00(yes, that's water only). I have a small apartment with 2 people living in it. I looked at a house in Avilla last night. I asked for a copy of their last months water bill, $22.00. That was all I needed to see.

Bigbass,
Sorry to hear you're going to leave our community.
There are two possibilities:
1. You are misreading your bill.
2. You have a severe water leak, and you need your landlord to get that fixed ASAP.

On your bill, you are billed for water, sewer, trash and recycling. This combined bill for all 4 services is what you are seeing as $63.14-110 or so. This is for water+sewer+trash+recycling.

In my family of 4, our current water bill is $17.49.

When you look at the utility bill, I want to draw your attention to a few things. First, the number that appears underneath 'Consumption' is how many thousands of gallons you have used over the previous recording period.
Next underneath this (the main portion of the left side of the bill), you'll see the Service portion, and this includes the Water charges separately, sewer(wastewater) charges separately, and Sanitaton (trash+recycling) separately.
Your total bill is Water+Wastewater+Sanitation.

If you are honestly getting billed at $80-110 just for water, you need to alert your landlord of that ASAP and get them to fix your leak. That's the bill for roughly 20,000 gallons of water, which is average usage if you are a family of about 10.
Also, if this amount is just for water, how much are you paying for sewer and trash and recycling?

$17.49 is less than $22--but this again plays into the misinformation that Waterloo's water rates are incredibly high--the facts say otherwise. Last I knew (about a year ago), there were 4 or 5 other communities in the area with higher water rates than Waterloo.

[james_t]

Any news from KPC on this?

I forwarded your post. You might want to give Dave Kurtz a call.

[bigbass]

Bigbass,
Sorry to hear you're going to leave our community.
There are two possibilities:
1. You are misreading your bill.
2. You have a severe water leak, and you need your landlord to get that fixed ASAP.

On your bill, you are billed for water, sewer, trash and recycling. This combined bill for all 4 services is what you are seeing as $63.14-110 or so. This is for water+sewer+trash+recycling.

In my family of 4, our current water bill is $17.49.

When you look at the utility bill, I want to draw your attention to a few things. First, the number that appears underneath 'Consumption' is how many thousands of gallons you have used over the previous recording period.
Next underneath this (the main portion of the left side of the bill), you'll see the Service portion, and this includes the Water charges separately, sewer(wastewater) charges separately, and Sanitaton (trash+recycling) separately.
Your total bill is Water+Wastewater+Sanitation.

If you are honestly getting billed at $80-110 just for water, you need to alert your landlord of that ASAP and get them to fix your leak. That's the bill for roughly 20,000 gallons of water, which is average usage if you are a family of about 10.
Also, if this amount is just for water, how much are you paying for sewer and trash and recycling?

$17.49 is less than $22--but this again plays into the misinformation that Waterloo's water rates are incredibly high--the facts say otherwise. Last I knew (about a year ago), there were 4 or 5 other communities in the area with higher water rates than Waterloo.

Thank you for the comments and suggestions Nathan, The bill is itemized so I can see what is being charged for each service. Actually we do not receive a garbage or recycling bill, that is included in rent. We have also gone through the house with a fine tooth comb looking for leaks. We have not identified any. I will say however, the portion of the bill that is for Water is typically around $20.00-$30.00 but the Waste-water ranges from $40-$50.00. In any event, it is much too high. I understand that the town put all the new systems in and those systems cost money. The problem is that it appears as though the town is trying to recoup that money at breakneck speed without much consideration as to what it is doing to the citizens ability to make ends meet. In all honesty it's not a huge deal for me, I can simply find another apartment elsewhere and move. I would just hate to be a homeowner strapped with that kind of expense for water.

[nathandiehl]

Bigbass,
$20 in Waterloo for water is less than $22 in Avilla for water. I just want you to be sure you are using sound logic and not buying into the false hype that Waterloo has incredibly high rates.

You will be able to save 10% or so if you choose the correct location. But you can also end up paying an extra 10% if you choose the wrong community. Choose wisely...

Good luck.

[bigbass]

Bigbass,
$20 in Waterloo for water is less than $22 in Avilla for water. I just want you to be sure you are using sound logic and not buying into the false hype that Waterloo has incredibly high rates.

You will be able to save 10% or so if you choose the correct location. But you can also end up paying an extra 10% if you choose the wrong community. Choose wisely...

Good luck.

No Nathan, $22.00 in Avilla INCLUDED WATER and WASTE WATER!!!! You can't say the water bill in Waterloo is Water only and NOT include the waste water. That is false hype!

[nathandiehl]

You can't say the water bill in Waterloo is Water only and NOT include the waste water. That is false hype!

I didn't say that.

If you would re-read, you'll see that you were the one who said:

My average water-bill in Waterloo has been $80.00 per month for the past year. I have paid as high as $110.00 and as low as $65.00(yes, that's water only). I have a small apartment with 2 people living in it. I looked at a house in Avilla last night. I asked for a copy of their last months water bill, $22.00.

Then, later you said:

I will say however, the portion of the bill that is for Water is typically around $20.00-$30.00

Then later, you said:

No Nathan, $22.00 in Avilla INCLUDED WATER and WASTE WATER!!!!

I don't think I'm the one that is mis-speaking. Confused as to your facts? Absolutely, but that is understandable considering you've contradicted yourself multiple times:
"My average water-bill in Waterloo has been $80.00 per month"
"the bill that is for Water is typically around $20.00-$30.00"
and:
"I looked at a house in Avilla last night. I asked for a copy of their last months water bill, $22.00."
"$22.00 in Avilla INCLUDED WATER and WASTE WATER!"

I cannot have a rational discussion when someone keeps changing changing their story. So unless you have something new to add, I think it's clear here that it is futile for me to attempt to communicate with someone who clearly keeps changing the story--and we're not going to get anywhere--and fast--when you keep changing your story, so I think it's probably time to end this one, and I'll cite my comment earlier that I'm not going to debate back and forth. So you can have the last word, but I'm not going to continue debating when the facts keep changing.


If anyone has any other questions for me, as always I'll be open and transparent, as government should be. Please ask (or if you would prefer, send me a private message).

[bigbass]

I didn't say that.

If you would re-read, you'll see that you were the one who said:


Then, later you said:


Then later, you said:


I don't think I'm the one that is mis-speaking. Confused as to your facts? Absolutely, but that is understandable considering you've contradicted yourself multiple times:
"My average water-bill in Waterloo has been $80.00 per month"
"the bill that is for Water is typically around $20.00-$30.00"
and:
"I looked at a house in Avilla last night. I asked for a copy of their last months water bill, $22.00."
"$22.00 in Avilla INCLUDED WATER and WASTE WATER!"

I cannot have a rational discussion when someone keeps changing changing their story. So unless you have something new to add, I think it's clear here that it is futile for me to attempt to communicate with someone who clearly keeps changing the story--and we're not going to get anywhere--and fast--when you keep changing your story, so I think it's probably time to end this one, and I'll cite my comment earlier that I'm not going to debate back and forth. So you can have the last word, but I'm not going to continue debating when the facts keep changing.


If anyone has any other questions for me, as always I'll be open and transparent, as government should be. Please ask (or if you would prefer, send me a private message).

Nathan,

I am not contradicting myself. The FACTS have NOT changed! It is simple to understand. I DO NOT separate Water and Waste Water, they both have to be paid as one bill, therefore, I consider them one bill. So once again, my average bill for water is $80 a month. That includes both New Water and Waste Water. Which HAVE to be paid together. Now, if you are saying I only have to pay for New Water and I can forget paying for Waste Water then my water bill would only be about $20 a month. Can't do that though can we? So, as a part of my TOTAL WATER bill I have to pay for BOTH (NEW WATER AND WASTE WATER), therefore, my bill averages $80.00 per month. The bill I saw from Avilla was $22.00 for BOTH New Water and Waste Water(which by my calculations is much less than $80.00, right).

I have NOT changed my story at all! You continue to try to make it sound like there is no issue with the water bills in Waterloo by separating the New Water usage portion of the bill from the Waste Water portion of the bill even though you pay the combined total of the two when you pay the bill!

This is NOT a matter of contradiction Nathan, this is a matter of you trying to make the bills look smaller by splitting the Sewage/Waste Water portion of the bill out and then say "See I told you our water bills aren't any higher than any other towns!"

Sorry my intellect is so far under yours Nathan, perhaps someday, if I ever get smart enough I might be able to partake in a conversation with a man of your stature.


If you feel the contradiction is when I added this "(yes, that's water only)". I meant that it did NOT include Trash Pick-up or Recycling.

And you never did address the items floating in the water. Why?

[nathandiehl]

My bad--you made up a definition for water. Completely my bad. I apologize.
I have a hard time following people when they make up definitions. I have a track record of this. I need to do better at trying to understand when people make stuff up instead of assuming people understand the definition of things like 'water.'

So my bad, bigbass.

Good luck in your search for cheaper rates.

[nathandiehl]

bigbass,
After understanding your definition of water, I re-read your comments, and I sent you a PM.
Nathan.