COUNCILWOMAN BRINKERHOFF-RILEY OFFERS SOLUTIONS TO EVANSVILLE WATER METERS REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

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    All,
    Reverend Brooks, thank you for your time yesterday.
    I also spoke with Alice Withers at CAPE who stated they are willing to participate. I think relaxing the requirements would include waiving the requirement that they be current on the mortgage/water bill and raising the income eligibility to 150% of the area median gross income, adjusted for family size. I also think populating a list of approved contractors would greatly improve prices and insure that we are getting the best price for our dollars. A flat fee for where the pit just needs to be dug out and leaves/roots removed may also be helpful. Extending the time-frame for the work would also be necessary.
    I spoke with Mike Duckworth Thursday and made these suggestions. He said he would call me yesterday, but I did not hear from him. I understand that Lloyd is meeting with Allen Mounts on Monday, and then hopefully Allen will be available Monday night to discuss a solution. There are potentially 1000s more of these issues as the City continues the project, and a better approach is certainly needed.
    At least $1 million dollars needs to be set aside for an assistance program, or the residential meters should not be replaced where there are cited issues that the ratepayer is allegedly responsible to fix/replace. These are not situations where the current meter cannot be read or where the resident has a leak. Additionally, as I understand the contract with Johnson Controls, there is really no lost revenue to be gained on the residential side. I don’t think the ratepayers should be on the hook for millions of dollars in unneeded replacement work to garner a revenue guarantee from Johnson Controls on the commercial water use side.
    I also don’t think the ratepayer or the City will see any savings related to the stated goal of eliminating the salaries and benefits of 6-8 meter readers with these new meters. The Water Department has grown in terms of the number of employees, even with eliminating these jobs, and given the millions that residents will pay for replacement parts in their meter pits, it’s just not worth forcing a completely remotely read system.
    I noticed that the Water Department customer service personnel stopped referring customers to Hydromax on Friday afternoon. When I spoke to an assistant to Allen on Thursday, I was told that they were referring to people to Hydromax, because they gave a free estimate, and that Hydromax had so much work they were scheduling replacement work out in March of next year. I think it’s imperative that the company citing issues not also be receiving referrals on replacing pipes. They have had every incentive up until this point to find problems. I have residents who have had a plumber come out who cannot find a reason that the new water meter cannot be installed. However, they were told by the Water Department customer service staff that they would not receive another inspection. I’m not sure what these people are supposed to do at this point. I’ve suggested they submit a statement from the plumbing company that came out.
    I have great concern that when faced with a large bill from a plumber, many residents will simply sign the waiver of liability that is offered as an alternative in the letter sent out by the Water Department. I think any waivers received from the 1000+ letters that were sent out over the last month should be disregarded. “Duress” is the word that comes to mind when I imagine the stress and panic experienced by residents struggling to survive who received a letter threatening to turn off their water. This is not Detroit. Water is a necessity for which threats to discontinue service should not be made lightly. These letters were terrifying on their face to many who received them, and the City should not take advantage of any waivers received as a result of its actions in this situation.
    I appreciate your time and look forward to moving into a discussion of the solution.
    Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley
    THIS LETTER WAS POSTED BY THE CITY COUNTY OBSERVER WITHOUT BIAS, OPINON OR EDITING.

    RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

    52 COMMENTS

    1. Is it true that Hydromax is not a union company? So union bashing has no bases here. If there is bashing, it should it not be towards “business greed” that is pushing and supplying the technology, and not the work force itself?

      Where is the logic in spending tens of millions of dollars of replacing good working meters for those few 6-8 wages? If it replaced 25, I could see it! Recovery of this money spent will be likely on the manipulation of the new meters at the customers expense!

      • I see Mike Duckworthless didn’t have time to respond to the Councilwoman. I think he needs to finally retire, at least from the public payroll. He could get a job as a greeter at the new Walmart.
        I don’t know if Hydromax is union, but I don’t think they are. I think we have the “kickback” issue in this situation, but it is from a company with a conflict of interest instead of the usual suspects. I hear that Hydromax is so booked up, it is making appointments for March work for the victims of this shameful scam.

      • Has ‘BAIT & SWITCH’ fraud occurred ?

        Several posters have commented that Mounts reported to City Council that “65,000 meters” were being replaced. Ellen Woerter was the last to report that, I believe.
        On 9/4/2012, in an effort to gain IURC approval, EWS issued a Change Order # 4 to reduce the number of ‘small meters’ (those < 1" diameter) by 16,596 meters. That CO, as it was presented to IURC, reduced the project by $ 1,016,000. That change would have reduced residential meters to 44,000 and commercial meters to less than 4,000.

        If that CO # 4 has now been put back in play, then there has been a 'Bait & Switch': show a reduction to IURC so you can get approval; and then when the project gets going, add those extra 16,000 meters back into the mix. If that is not fraud, then someone tell me what to call it ? Only way it's not fraud: send it back up to IURC, with the addition of those 16,000 meters, and let them adjudicate the matter again.

      • Excerpt from ‘Amended & Restated Performance Contract’ for Johnson Controls/ City of Evansville agreement, Item 8:

        CLEANUP REPAIR. JCI shall keep the premises and the surrounding area free from accumulation of waste materials or rubbish caused by the Work and, upon completion of the Work, JCI shall remove all waste materials, rubbish, tools, construction equipment, machinery, and surplus materials. In the event that JCI or any of tts employees or agents causes any damage to any premises or injury to any person where Work is being performed, JCI shall promptly repair such damages and shall indemnify Customer from and against any and all damages, costs, expenses. liabilities, claims, penalties, and actions arising out of or related to any such damages to suclh premises or injury to such person.

        Question: doesn’t this make JCI liable for damages caused by its subcontractor/ and for cleaning up the mess after an install ???

        • Not to sound like “The Village Idiot” here but, IMHO, the contract language quoted leads me to believe that Johnson Controls is responsible for damages caused by themselves or their contractors / subcontractors, IF, indeed, this is factually the wording from the JCI contract for the meters… If, indeed, this is factual wording from the JCI contract, why would it take City Council action to force JCI to live up to their part of the bargain if JCI were offering the meters while touting the associated cost-savings? This reeks of “Bee Slough during high-tide”, so to speak…

          I hope that sufficient numbers of you ask your elected representatives “the right questions” & that you demand “less-than-lame” responses. My best to you all.

    3. OOPS! Wrong key!
      Thanks for standing up for the people that the “machine” was about to roll over! We need more leaders like you.

    4. Wind a glad-handing bumbler like Winnecke up and turn him loose. He’ll eventually find his own Watergate.

        • And that is an appropriate siting for him to find his Waterloo.

          If we could get Johnson Controls to put a wireless regulation device on him I’d consider it my civic duty to volunteer to operate it for the good and amusement of my fellow citizens.

      • Awarded two UTC’s where credits due. Fair trade, for fare barter, without moderation, so to speak.

    5. That JCI plan really has no predictable bump room for free enterprise and customer side improvements from innovation either. That’s open ended by the applications predictable service rate charges.
      Those aspects are drivers for advancing ones water usage footprint, through customer managed conservation. Just what we’ve been working on to create viable customer side options.
      All the while consistently observing the global climate migration’s, that moves such an need for sustainable solutions forward.
      Global solutions are just fine in Evansville/Vanderburgh as well as any other geographic locations faced with clean water “duress” through the observed climate migrations today, and, well into the future. Your failed combined sanitary sewers present an growing unbalance in the available Nationally Strategic clean water balance. That’s just not healthy for anyone.
      The Ohio River drainage basin has seen increased climate energy, pretty steady. The CSO events need control, however the fix for that’s cost is driving clean water service rate increases beyond competitive advantage for the metro utilities services. That affects city and county revenue growth. (Predictable, and costly)

      The tropical changes and migrations to the arctic inputs from super storm Nuri heading onto the normally frozen northern surface structures are intrusive enthalpy.

      More energy to the atmosphere headed south “the beat goes on” locally for Controller Lloyd , Mr. Mounts and the ninety year old sewer and water main utility infrastructures in the old downtown sections. The spinning “duress”, including the vortex.

      http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd

      http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2014/1108/Superstorm-Typhoon-Nuri-slams-Alaska-sets-up-big-chill-for-lower-48

      (Social economic environmental migration points ) Why, our consortium concentrates on the working solutions. Politics “not so much”… but WAIT! Winters looming.

      • Sent me to the dictionary. +2. Enthalpy seems closely related to my low steam threshold. The very threshold that when breached obliges me to respond.

        • Never leave out the said opportunities for, steamed fare, for fair balance when one approaches those event horizons, either….

        • Enthalpy – everything moves towards the lowest state of energy, unless energy is added to the system. E.g., There is no such thing as “cold”; there is only heat, mote heat, less heat, and no heat (absolute zero). Sounds like some heat needs to be put on the City administration.

    6. C&P had a front page story about the meters this morning. It was reported that this project was $20 million?
      It has Mounts statement. Quote: “The current system, on average, bills the customers for slightly less water than they actually used”.

      One thing I did like what I had read was that a leak can be detected in a three day period from the “hourly” metering, vrs. the 30 day billing cycle.

      • Wondering if the water department will give back the monthly “built in” meter reading fee that will not be needed now? Have to offset that “extra water” billed that they claimed they were losing somehow!

      • C & P is reporting that the wireless meters are greater than sliced bread, and will cure cancer in our lifetime.

        • I’m told that they’ll put wings on your feet & hair on your chest (watch out, Ladies!)…

      • This is kind of BS. All it will detect in a higher then average usage. At that time a employee will have to contact the customer . At that point the customer will either know why his usage is up, watering the lawn, filling the pool ect. Or he will have the water dept. or a plumber come check it out. Most people will not be going on line to see what there meter read. This benefit? will cause the water dep’t more work an customers more unnecessary worry.

      • Unions ought to be ashamed of themselves for electing him. He headed the list that unions put out to their members during elections. The greedy old rich democrats and corrupt, thuggish unions continue to drive Evansville toward bankruptcy. What do unions, democrats and tornado have in common? They all wipe a town out.

    8. C &P front page, 11-9-2014:

      Trying to ‘sell the public’, again, on the wonders of the new Meters. No word, whatsoever, re: the homeowners being forced to pay for pipe repairs.

      Three points to note:

      1) The C&P has apparently announced an extension of time to install the meters. All meters were supposed to be installed by February 2015. Now, its “by this time next year” (which would be November 2015). Smooth;

      2) The article incorrectly states that the Bond Issue was for $ 20 Million. It was actually $ 45 Million, which I guess is a close-enough variance for the C&P–miss it by a factor of 2X; and

      3) C&P decides “while we’re talking smart grid, let’s put in a pitch for Vectren to do the same”. Great idea ! (not).

      The Courier & Press should have its ability to label this stuff as “News” revoked !

      • An old Indiana farmer told me about a selection beef pertaining to what was sold as, supposedly prime rib once.

        He said, “looked good on the plate,but must have been some fellas broke down old plow stock.”

        One wouldn’t want to waste it, but, it wasn’t table grade by how they served it.
        The old farmer said “the cut looked good, plus the serving was sized for value, first bite tasted ok, but the longer he chewed it the bigger it got.” “Hard to swallow, no matter how long one cooks it you’ll still bend a fork in the gravy”, gave up,took it home to the dog, he just finally buried it. ”
        ( Old Indiana Farmer)

        “Beef audit, so to speak.

      • Please do not confuse pipe line repair to pipe line replacement…there is nothing wrong with the customer’s pipe lines until the monkey’s over at Hydromax rip into the couplings on the customer side destroying the threading. Under the JCI contract, any destruction of the customer’s side of the meter, the City pays…so, just shut of the water if the customer do not replace NOT REPAIR the old water lines…SIMPLY UNBELIEVABLE!!!! Ratepayer, get your wallet out…..

    9. IURC Approval of Johnson Controls/ meters project:

      Repeating a post I made in 2013.

      Go to IURC Website, Case 44295. On 1/4/2013, a guy named Robert Clifford, a “Principal” of Umbaugh & Associates in Indy, wrote a letter to John Friend and the Council’s finance guy, Dennis Garrett, about the Johnson Controls project. On the last page, Mr. Clifford showed information on the total cash inflows compared to principal & interest. The IURC had shot down the City’s first stab at the meters project, because it failed a 10% test (Case 44123).

      Dennis Garrett took Mr. Clifford’s letter and pointed out to the IURC that the 10 % test was STILL NOT MET on this second case, that the total savings for the project was only 8 % of the debt service, not the required 10 %.

      The IURC requested that Umbaugh reply to the 8 % finding by Mr. Garrett. On 3/11/2013, another Umbaugh guy, Douglas Baldessari, said that “Mr. Garrett failed to include the other revenues and the water rate increase approved in Case 44137 ” in making the 10 % test.

      SCAM ! The IURC wants the PROJECT to provide a 10 % margin of error above paying the Bonds . . . not for the Utility to have to raid other funds to cover the bonds if things go South. For some reason, IURC allowed these pretend accountants to get away with it. HOWEVER, it told me one thing: Mr. Baldessari had to go fishing for extra money OUTSIDE of the meters project itself to sell it to IURC; and that tells you all you need to know about the notion that the meters will “pay for themselves”.

    10. you watch-in record time, they are going to parade SBR around the town square in the Courier and Press for eating live puppies with ketchup or some such crap.

    11. I got calls from people whom received these letters. The letters flat out say they have a leak . Not true. A plumber was called took one look at the letter told the person their pipes were bad and it would cost $2500 to fix. He did not open the pit. He did tell the person if they did not get it done now an it broke it would take two weeks to fix and they would be with out water. I opened the pit found the pipes to be in fair shape. The person canceled the call but was reminded of the time frame to fix if it broke. This was a large local union plumber. These are elderly people on fixed incomes They are not poor but do not have a lot of extra disposable income, certainly not $2500 for a repair that does not need to be made. Also is the city going to reclaim the money they spent on the early homeowners? Did they get the luck of the draw that the rest of us are now expected to pay?

      • Time to “name names”. Please identify the ‘large local union plumber’ by name, so we’ll know who the people are scamming the old folks.

      • I think it would be interesting to know who those people who got a free ride were. I still believe many of them are the same people who got the fancy streetlights on our dime. Carol’s husband just can’t do enough for his downtown elitist pals.

    12. I do not consider them free loaders. They were treated the same as water customers have been treated for decades. If the water dept broke something while they were working on it they fixed it. This is a entirely new policy. I do not believe this is legal
      Since customers or public utility they come under were not told of this change before hand and; this big a change should not be made by a couple of dept heads.

    13. STEPHANIE BRINKERHOFF RILEY- Please. Re read the contract. your answer is there it’s three move ahead, but it’s there. Residents don’t need to pay for “pit issues”. it’s there, trust me it’s there.

    14. Since the new meters are being installed to more accurately account for water usage and therefore increasing the income of the water department, why don’t they just mark the meters which need updates/fixes, and then come back later after they have raised enough money with the new meters and replace those using that money?

    15. One more note to this story. In the past two months I have received letters offering me an opportunity to insure both the waterlines running FROM my meter and my INSIDE plumbing pipes.

      I do NOT have city water at my home address, although the lines run along the road in front side of my lot. I DO own property inside the city with city water. I don’t know if these letters were intended for the city property or my home, as no address to be insured was indicated.

      Questions: Where did this “insurer” get it’s mailing list? Is the Evansville Water Dept. selling the names of customers for unsolicited advertising? If so, where is the revenue from that sale going? Could the Evansville Water Dept., or certain individuals with access to the customer mailing lists, have an interest in this “insurance” company? As I recall, the return address was not local. Does anyone else remember getting one of these letters? Could this company be associated with Johnson Controls or Hydromax?

      Questions: Where is the revenue for the Combined Sewer Project, obtained from the obscene sewer charge and “mandated” charge increases deposited? I would like to believe it is being held in a separate ESCROW account, but with Jenny Collins in charge of the money, I have my doubts. Surely it is not legal to co-mingle CSO funds with the General Fund or any other account. Is this something the IURC should be keeping an eye on?

    16. I posted this on IIT, but it fits here too.
      I really don’t know where to post this comment on the City Council meeting that was over a few minutes ago, so I’ll put it here and copy it to the other appropriate places.
      The fact that neither Allen Mounts nor Mike Duckworth could find the time in their busy schedules to appear before Council tonight to explain the nasty letters sent to over 1000 water customers that went out over Duckworthless’ signature. He pled ignorance about the letters, which makes me wonder just how much time he devotes to his lucrative post-retirement career. If you don’t read a letter that goes out with your name stamped on it, I really have to wonder about how well you do the rest of your job.
      Mr. Mounts allegedly accepted the blame, but apparently didn’t care enough to back out of a “previous commitment” that he didn’t notify Council of until mid-afternoon, although he was asked to appear last week. John Nobody’s Friend’s wife received one of the letters concerning property owned by her father, so it appears he had knowledge of the letters before Councilwoman Brinkerhoff-Riley. He didn’t bother to go public with any concerns for his constituents though. I guess he thought keeping things quiet might serve him better, with all of his political ambitions.
      Steve Schaeffer apparently drew the short straw, and came to the meeting. He was as apologetic as he can appear about the tone of the letters and assured people that they can disregard the threats contained in the embarrassing letters. He stopped short of committing to seeing to it that residents won’t, in the end, wind up footing the bill for the problems that Johnson Controls knew full well would happen.
      An employee of Hydromax showed up to accuse Councilwoman Brinkerhoff-Riley of libel, but was pretty quickly backed down by Council Attorney Scott Danks and Ed Massey, of the Water Department.
      The basic message I took away from the meeting is that a lot of people are really uncomfortable dealing with the truth that SBR opened up to public scrutiny and Johnson Controls doesn’t do PR well at all. My opinion is that a lot of people thought that the local voters are so apathetic that they would just roll over and play dead on this issue, and since that didn’t happen Mr. Mounts and Duckworth need to be offering their resignations this week.

    17. No modoh-

      Was the company’s name aqualine? Was this the company that sent you information in the line repair insurance?

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