No Surprise, City's Utility Increase for 2025.

[Richard Baker]

Not a surprise, an inept and historically inert Lakewood Administration and City Council is increasing the already obscene water and sewage rates to residents. Can we assume the Democrat regime wants to meet Biden’s targeted inflation increase? There are similarities, Lakewood water supply isn’t independent and pipeline relining was only recently started due to the EPA forcing Lakewood to restrict its raw sewage dumping into Lake Erie and Rocky River.

The increases in the rates for water is 4.03 percent, and the sewer at 4.02 percent, as compared to social security beneficiaries increase of only 2.5 percent for 2024. Perhaps the city will install showers in the Cove Senior Recreational facilities so fixed income seniors will have the opportunity to bath at the same frequency as before the increases.

For decades, the City of Lakewood has included capital improvement charges in the water and sewer rates. These funds were designated to replace dated water and sewer lines that did come to fruition, instead city add personnel. Water lines that should have been replaced years prior are currently breaking at an alarming rate. Of course, the City’s concern about the city resident’s health when they tore down the hospital, possibly to remove the asbestos, never gave a thought about replacing the city’s lead service lines poisoning the water children are currently drinking in their homes.

Nothing will change until the charter is changed removing at the large councilman positions, and assigned to that each district will have two representatives. The city will continue to serve the elite, and those who ask for what their city can do for them. Only then can an Elon Musk minded clone mayor be able to eliminate the jobs that do not directly benefit the majority of the residents, and the city’s staffing level is similar to cities of comparable size.

[cameron karslake]

It's "Democratic", Mr. Baker, and thank you for your comment.