Comments on: Miami’s Sewer Politics Part I http://www.gmtnewsnviews.com/2010/01/04/miamis-sewer-politics-part-i/ Weekly Review of Globe-Miami Az News & Views Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:15:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Darryl Dalley http://www.gmtnewsnviews.com/2010/01/04/miamis-sewer-politics-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Darryl Dalley Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:59:19 +0000 http://www.gmtnewsnviews.com/?p=916#comment-162 Thank you for the news article on the Town of Miami's sewer issue. A little history about myself is I am retired from the Army and returned to live in my hometown of Miami, Arizona just about two years ago. While preparing to move back home I attended many Miami Town Council meetings. No one in the meetings knew who I was nor did I have any conversations with anyone either. I just watched and observed the meetings. Once I moved to Miami I met with Mayor Canizales and told him I was here to help the Town of Miami in any way possible. I helped form a group called Destination Miami and we made a booth for the Gila County Fair to show the folks of Arizona and Gila County that the Town of Miami was still alive. I started volunteering in the Town Hall on working on old sewer accounts and background data. I then got appointed to the Miami Town Council. I continued to research the history of payments and collections of the town's sewer and trash accounts. It was not a pretty site to say the least. Several years the town finally went to a computer program instead of using the old fashion payment sheets. There was boxes and boxes of old payment sheets and a huge folder of so called "waivers", that is folks who did not have to pay thier sewer/trash bills for one reason or the other. Under the old system there was no system to track anything to know when someone signed up for the service. The record was writing the date and how much paid on this card. The computer system was a big question because the lack of knowledge of the town employees knowing how to use the system. The employees who actually got the training for the computer system no longer worked for the town and they did not leave no notes behind. I was volunteering with another person at this time. He made adjustments to many accounts and did things with the computer system. He finally stopped showing up to the town hall and the council voted to not let him acccess anymore. The failing sewer system and low rates of the town were being notices. The town was desperate to find out how to get funds and fix or replace the system. Someone needed to study the rates, find out the facts and see what could be done. The Mayor got wind of federal grants to get the town's sewer system replaced but with the grants the town had to follow the rules to get the grants. So, Susan Hansen and myself got volunteered or volunteered for this project along with Mr. Don Reiman. We continued to study the town's sewer and trash biling system. We used federal guidelines and with the research from studying other municipalities on how they made thier sewer and trash rates made some proposals. This did not happen overnight to say the least. Everytime we made a proposal we had to have a public workshop and then present it to the Town Council. After over at least a year of work by Susan, Don and myself we made the final proposal or the new ordinance for the town on the sewer and trash rates. Residents expressed thier concerns of it being too expensive and others like some residents of Miami Gardens could not wait for the final numbers to come out and jumped the gun and wrote nasty and rude letters to the state about our proposed rates. I personally met with residents of Miami Gardens and the council met with residents of Miami Gardens. The town has not had a increase of sewer and trash in many, many years to say the least. The most amazing number was town residents were paying only $1.95 for bulk trash pick up a month, that is tree trimmings, junk and everything put house garbage pick up. Part of our final proposal was for the town not to pick up the bulk trash because it was too cost the residents too much per month. There was a lot of drama along the way as well. The method of figuring up sewer bills was explained from day one. When thier was actual proposed numbers, we explained to the public during public hearings, then to workshops, and then at town council meetings. The Mayor and members of the council made a presentation to WIFA to try to get a grant or a loan over 1 million dollars to help our failed sewer system. WIFA checked all the numbers to make sure the towns new rates made it possible to pay back the loan/grant. The Mayor sold the numbers to WIFA and they loaned us over 1 million dollars. Now we will be applying for a federal grant for around 18 million dollars. Using the same numbers presented to WIFA. This 18 million dollars is to replace the entire sewer lines throughout the town. The Council voted 5 to 1 to pass the proposed rates. The only council person to not agree was Vice Mayor Mike Black. So full council support is not on the rates or the future of the town. One thing that I think residents and some other did not take in consideration of our new sewer rates is the Freeport Mc.Moran was making a new state of the art waste water treatment facility and once it was ready for operation they would turn it over to the Town of Miami. If we had to take in consideration the 6 million dollars it is taking to make this plant our sewer rates would more than likely be at least 10 if not 20 dollars more per house. Sewer and trash is now just as expensive as electricity, water and cable and is a major expense in a household. Our new rates is still lower than many towns and cites in the state and nation. I hope the residents understand that in the near future we will have a new sewer system and waste water treatment plant. The question is how old is the old sewer system and lines in the Town of Miami? Well, they were made in the early 1900's. On a closing note the town never created or had a seperate acccounting system for the money for the sewer and trash. There was no reserve of money or anything to use to fix something. Now there is. Residents must choose who they want to lead the town based on thier knowledge, skills and abilities and not pure friendship. Thank you for this web site. Darryl S. Dalley Thank you for the news article on the Town of Miami’s sewer issue. A little history about myself is I am retired from the Army and returned to live in my hometown of Miami, Arizona just about two years ago. While preparing to move back home I attended many Miami Town Council meetings. No one in the meetings knew who I was nor did I have any conversations with anyone either. I just watched and observed the meetings.
Once I moved to Miami I met with Mayor Canizales and told him I was here to help the Town of Miami in any way possible. I helped form a group called Destination Miami and we made a booth for the Gila County Fair to show the folks of Arizona and Gila County that the Town of Miami was still alive.
I started volunteering in the Town Hall on working on old sewer accounts and background data. I then got appointed to the Miami Town Council. I continued to research the history of payments and collections of the town’s sewer and trash accounts. It was not a pretty site to say the least. Several years the town finally went to a computer program instead of using the old fashion payment sheets. There was boxes and boxes of old payment sheets and a huge folder of so called “waivers”, that is folks who did not have to pay thier sewer/trash bills for one reason or the other. Under the old system there was no system to track anything to know when someone signed up for the service. The record was writing the date and how much paid on this card. The computer system was a big question because the lack of knowledge of the town employees knowing how to use the system. The employees who actually got the training for the computer system no longer worked for the town and they did not leave no notes behind. I was volunteering with another person at this time. He made adjustments to many accounts and did things with the computer system. He finally stopped showing up to the town hall and the council voted to not let him acccess anymore.
The failing sewer system and low rates of the town were being notices. The town was desperate to find out how to get funds and fix or replace the system. Someone needed to study the rates, find out the facts and see what could be done.
The Mayor got wind of federal grants to get the town’s sewer system replaced but with the grants the town had to follow the rules to get the grants.
So, Susan Hansen and myself got volunteered or volunteered for this project along with Mr. Don Reiman. We continued to study the town’s sewer and trash biling system. We used federal guidelines and with the research from studying other municipalities on how they made thier sewer and trash rates made some proposals. This did not happen overnight to say the least. Everytime we made a proposal we had to have a public workshop and then present it to the Town Council. After over at least a year of work by Susan, Don and myself we made the final proposal or the new ordinance for the town on the sewer and trash rates. Residents expressed thier concerns of it being too expensive and others like some residents of Miami Gardens could not wait for the final numbers to come out and jumped the gun and wrote nasty and rude letters to the state about our proposed rates. I personally met with residents of Miami Gardens and the council met with residents of Miami Gardens.
The town has not had a increase of sewer and trash in many, many years to say the least. The most amazing number was town residents were paying only $1.95 for bulk trash pick up a month, that is tree trimmings, junk and everything put house garbage pick up. Part of our final proposal was for the town not to pick up the bulk trash because it was too cost the residents too much per month.
There was a lot of drama along the way as well. The method of figuring up sewer bills was explained from day one. When thier was actual proposed numbers, we explained to the public during public hearings, then to workshops, and then at town council meetings.
The Mayor and members of the council made a presentation to WIFA to try to get a grant or a loan over 1 million dollars to help our failed sewer system. WIFA checked all the numbers to make sure the towns new rates made it possible to pay back the loan/grant. The Mayor sold the numbers to WIFA and they loaned us over 1 million dollars.
Now we will be applying for a federal grant for around 18 million dollars. Using the same numbers presented to WIFA. This 18 million dollars is to replace the entire sewer lines throughout the town.
The Council voted 5 to 1 to pass the proposed rates. The only council person to not agree was Vice Mayor Mike Black. So full council support is not on the rates or the future of the town.
One thing that I think residents and some other did not take in consideration of our new sewer rates is the Freeport Mc.Moran was making a new state of the art waste water treatment facility and once it was ready for operation they would turn it over to the Town of Miami. If we had to take in consideration the 6 million dollars it is taking to make this plant our sewer rates would more than likely be at least 10 if not 20 dollars more per house.
Sewer and trash is now just as expensive as electricity, water and cable and is a major expense in a household. Our new rates is still lower than many towns and cites in the state and nation.
I hope the residents understand that in the near future we will have a new sewer system and waste water treatment plant. The question is how old is the old sewer system and lines in the Town of Miami? Well, they were made in the early 1900′s.
On a closing note the town never created or had a seperate acccounting system for the money for the sewer and trash. There was no reserve of money or anything to use to fix something. Now there is. Residents must choose who they want to lead the town based on thier knowledge, skills and abilities and not pure friendship.
Thank you for this web site.

Darryl S. Dalley

]]> By: SHansen http://www.gmtnewsnviews.com/2010/01/04/miamis-sewer-politics-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-124 SHansen Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:11:34 +0000 http://www.gmtnewsnviews.com/?p=916#comment-124 Linda, We appreciate your coverage on this very big problem that we will resolve. I need to correct the statement that Mr. Dalley and I were elected, we were appointed when other council persons stepped down. Nevertheless, we want to do what is best for Miami, as does every member of the town council, Administrator, Staff and various committees of volunteers. We have heard the never ending comments repeatedly, majority not good, of how the town is run and what (?) is running it. Here is the answer! Real People with families and jobs, that choose to live in Miami. Whether you were fortunate to be born here or lucky enough to realize it is a diamond in the rough and moved here. Even with our differences we are united in the love of this little town and we will complete our task at hand - plus! The Town of Miami is under restoration from under the ground up. The past is the past, how, why & who got us here - NOT RELEVANT. Go! Go! Go! That is what rings out. From the generosity of Freeport' with the new sewer treatment plant, the success of our recent WIFA loan for engineering of the infrastructure, plans in committee as we speak for the Bloody Tanks Riverwalk and many more major projects over the next five years. We will overcome and become what Miami was at its best in the past. With the restoration flair and savoy of the future. Just watch our copper dust!!! Susan Hanson Linda,

We appreciate your coverage on this very big problem that we will resolve. I need to correct the statement that Mr. Dalley and I were elected, we were appointed when other council persons stepped down. Nevertheless, we want to do what is best for Miami, as does every member of the town council, Administrator, Staff and various committees of volunteers.

We have heard the never ending comments repeatedly, majority not good, of how the town is run and what (?) is running it. Here is the answer!

Real People with families and jobs, that choose to live in Miami. Whether you were fortunate to be born here or lucky enough to realize it is a diamond in the rough and moved here. Even with our differences we are united in the love of this little town and we will complete our task at hand – plus! The Town of Miami is under restoration from under the ground up.

The past is the past, how, why & who got us here – NOT RELEVANT. Go! Go! Go! That is what rings out. From the generosity of Freeport’ with the new sewer treatment plant, the success of our recent WIFA loan for engineering of the infrastructure, plans in committee as we speak for the Bloody Tanks Riverwalk and many more major projects over the next five years. We will overcome and become what Miami was at its best in the past. With the restoration flair and savoy of the future. Just watch our copper dust!!!

Susan Hanson

]]> By: LCGross http://www.gmtnewsnviews.com/2010/01/04/miamis-sewer-politics-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-121 LCGross Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:40:24 +0000 http://www.gmtnewsnviews.com/?p=916#comment-121 Just discovered the piece done by Channel 15 and posted it here. Check out the pics. They are worth a thousand words! Just discovered the piece done by Channel 15 and posted it here. Check out the pics. They are worth a thousand words!

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