A letter to The Mayor of Lorain Ohio.

Gentlemen:

We, the undersigned, are writing to inform you that since the water/sewer rates were increased in 2017, we have been paying our bills in protest and will continue to pay them in protest as access to water is essential to each of us. As customers, paying these excessive rates/fees, we ask you to immediately put a process in place to address the issues surrounding water/sewer funds and the operating policies of the Utilities Department. Reducing fees to date, has only been a band-aid. A full review and action is required. We do not agree with the use of City of Lorain funds to fight a lawsuit when issues can and should be resolved by the City of Lorain Administration and City Council.

On November 30, 2019, The Chronicle-Telegram detailed Mr. Bradley’s goals within the first 100 days of being on the job. He was quoted as “standing by his campaign promises for his first 100 days, planning to tackle water rates within those first weeks.” Bradley also planned to “try to lower residents' water and sewer rates and will look to audit the Utility Department.” He noted “people just can't understand why people felt frustrated calling the Water Department and not getting good answers.” His promises have not been kept.
We were all told that the rate and fee increases, starting in 2017, were due to EPA-mandates and the threat of fines; which has proven to be untrue as they have produced excessive cash balances as confirmed by Pat Riley, Law Director in a February 27, 2020 memo. For whatever reason, the City did not avail themselves of other financing sources, preferring to amass cash. In general, no one pays cash for a car or a home; why would the City think water/sewer updates would need to paid almost solely in cash when there are other available sources of low-interest and no interest loans and grant funding? These sources are readily identifiable by talking with other city utility departments, the EPA, the Ohio EPA, and/or by a google search. The City of Lorain has collected excessive fees and rates and continues to do so.
We would like a written report from Mr. Bradley on the outside firm that has been hired, the status of that audit when a report will be forthcoming on that audit and what actions will be taken. We would also like to know the overall cost of the audit since city funds were and will remain tight. Further, we would like a written report from Mr. Bradley on what steps his administration has taken to address all the issues that are very plain to each of us – not being charged for actual water use, bills that don’t make sense in relationship to people in the home, high fees for late-payments (affecting those who mostly can’t pay the excessive fees and rates to begin with – which is counterproductive and costly both in not having water available and in wasted city resources to run around and turn the water off and on), an inability of the city to determine a plan to pay for needed upgrades including all available funding sources, etc.
We would also like Mr. Bradley to follow through on another promise noted in that Chronicle article, that is “planning to create a citizen’s advisory council.” We would specifically like this to be applied to water/sewer issues. Of course, this is made more difficult by the current COVID issues, but can be put in place with appropriate social distancing, Zoom meetings, etc. There was a recent template submitted at the April council meeting that would serve as a blueprint for addressing the issues of excessive rates and fees and overall operations of the Utilities Department. This memo was addressed directly to Joshua Thornsberry as the Chairman of the Utilities and Streets Departments. However, it should be a concern to each member of the Administration and City Council. Ideally, we would like to see Council and the administration work together, with a citizen’s committee to resolve all issues surrounding water/sewer.
Please respond, in writing, at the next council meeting, i.e. by submitting such information to be included with the agenda for the next council meeting. We would also appreciate comments by Joshua Thornsberry, Joel Arredondo, and other council members on how these issues are being addressed and when.

Thank you,