What does the Sewer Issue have to do with Abolishing Polk City?

In November 2009, the sewer issue was a big debate around town.  Mrs. Trudy Block organized a group of citizens to help spearhead a movement to stop the sewer expansion that the city was planning at the time.
This group had unbelievable backing and support from the community, since this city plan would more than double the utility bills for it's potential sewer customers along with high hook up fees at the property owner's expense.  This plan would also have increased the city's already out of control debt by millions of dollars.  Because of the huge support of the public at the time, it appeared that the city dropped the issue.  After this, the citizen's put their trust in Mrs. Block in hopes that she would represent the citizen's wishes when she became a City Council Member last Spring.  Mrs. Block was not only selected as a City Council Member, but immediately appointed by the new Council as Vice-Mayor, and has been acting as Interim City Manager for the last 2 months.

Since the city has nearly maxed out the proposed millage rate at 9.65%, with the cap being at 10%, the city is seeking new revenue sources.  It doesn't take a genius to see that sewers are not a dead issue.  The Cardinal Hill sewer plant is loosing money since it is only operating at approximately 25% capacity.  Our understanding is that there are plans to reroute Mt. Olive Shores North sewer lines to connect those customers to the Cardinal Hill Plant.  This would save money in repairs to the deteriorating existing MOSN sewer lines, but will require additional funds to reroute the system.

With the city's cut backs in attempt to reduce the city debt, FGUA (Florida Governmental Utilities Authority), will be brought in to run the water and sewer systems in the city.  Our understanding is that a 5 year contract will be, or already has been signed.  Leasing the water and sewer operations to this 3rd party, FGUA, will also relinquish control over future rate increases.

Most sewer systems are not a profitable venture for municipalities.  Therefore, it is important that the facilities operate at or near 100% capacity to balance expenses.  Even after MOSN customers are rerouted to the Cardinal Hill Sewer plant, it will still be far from operating at full capacity.  So you can see, the sewer expansion issue for the city and it's surrounding properties is certainly not dead.

All the more reason to abolish the city...

**** Update ****
We would just like to clarify our article above in stating that we are not attempting to attack any City Officials personally, mainly Mrs. Block.  We acknowledge that considering the mess of the city when the new officials took their positions, there have been numerous difficult decisions they have had to make to try to clean it up.
When we say," the sewer expansion issue for the city and it's surrounding properties is certainly not dead." we did not mean to imply that the massive plans the city was trying to push through last November are back on the table.  We are simply saying that because of the problems the current sewer systems have, the city will have no choice but to spend more money on sewers and likely add more new customers to the sewer system to help pay for it.