Published: February 19, 2008 09:12 am      

Hart says RLCD water rate hike was wrong to do

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By JEREMY HALL

jeremy.hall@register-news.com

WHITTINGTON — Richard Hart, disposed last summer as a Franklin County member of the Rend Lake Conservancy District Board, said the recent water rate increase approved by the district would not have been OK’d had he still served on the board when the vote took place.

“It’s not needed,” said Hart. “It’s not necessary. But management always wants more money.”

Hart had served as a Franklin County representative to the board and during the summer was elected as board president. However, his term expired and he was not given another term by the Franklin County Board.

Without Hart representing Franklin County, the RLCD Board voted down county lines to increase the water rate in December, with Franklin County representatives outnumbering their Jefferson County counterparts 4-3. Jefferson County members Jim Dolwick, Jim Rippy and Jere Shaw all opposed the rate increase.

The vote to increase the water rate accompanied a move to apply for a $13.4 million loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Dolwick, Rippy and Shaw all claimed the increase is not necessary and that the amount of money in the loan exceeds the roughly $10 million needed for an upgrade of the water plant, an electrical upgrade and installation of a water line to provide service to Marion in Williamson County.

Hart said he would have broken county lines and voted against the rate increase.

“If I had been reappointed there, it wouldn’t have happened,” said Hart. “I think the ones in Jefferson County are trying to do what’s right for the district.”

Hart’s removal from the board itself was a source of controversy for the RLCD. Rippy and Shaw said they believed Hart was told he would not be reappointed if he voted for any of the Jefferson County members for board president.

According to Register-News archives, board member Keith Ward of Sesser said in July he was told by Hart that he had considered voting for Rippy as board president. Ward said he told Hart such a move would damage his chance at reappointment.

“That’s my story and I’m sticking to it,” Ward said at the time.

Hart said this week Franklin County officials, including the mayors of Benton and West Frankfort, need to question their RLCD Board representatives over the acquisition of more money than is needed.

RLCD general manager Keith Thomason has told the Register-News the added funds will “achieve our goal to keep rates below inflation from now on.”

Hart disagreed with the need.

“I think the district can get along without a rate increase now and in the future,” he said. “I haven’t seen anything where the mayor of Benton or West Frankfort are pressing for answers or have even discussed it with their appointees. I think they need to ask more questions.”

Shaw said on Monday the water district is continuing its pattern of “excesses.”

“Rend Lake Conservancy District is a story of excesses,” Shaw said. “Those excesses began with the inception of the district when much more land was taken from individuals than was needed and continue to this day with the recent unnecessary water rate increase.

“There was absolutely no need for the rate increase at this time. Our net revenue margins from water fees is in excess of $3 million, which would be more than enough to make annual debt service payments for the upgrade and expansion of the water plant. Moreover, borrowing $13.4 million to complete the project when only $8.3 [million] was needed is just another example of the continuing excesses.”