Water Company Revenues

The political rhetoric against Barletta's plan to takeover the water department of the Hazleton City Authority is so disingenuos it begs correction.

One of the possible suitors, among many, Pennsylvania American Water, is a publicly traded company. It is traded on the New York Stock Exchange with a symbol of AWK. A look at its 2008 annual report shows revenues which exceed $2 billion dollars. 7,000 employees serving 15 million people in 32 states and Ontario,Canada.

By comparison the Hazleton City Authority revenues are approximately $4-5 million.

Aqua Water Company is another business entity that has been mentioned in reports. Aqua Water trades on the NYSE with a symbol of WTR and annual revenues for 2008 of $627 million.

United Water is a third possible candidate. Under their facts and figures page annual revenues for 2007 were $800 million. They manage $2.5 billion in assets. HCA pegged their entire assets at $68 million. 2,600 employees serving over 7 million customers in 26 states. HCA Water Deparment- 40 employees in 1 state.

Hazleton City Councilman Jack Mundie stated the HCA is the best run authority in the state. While not being certain where the study was performed to back up that conclusion it is impossible to believe that companies acrruing over $3.5 billion in sales would perform any worse than an very small authority operation taking in $4-5 million.

Quelling the opponents on the water quality issue read this Consumer Confidence report from American Water at their Mount Laurel Treatment Facility.

Here is their history from 1886-1999.

The issue isn't whether it makes sense to sell the Hazleton City Authority's water department. The issue is Barletta. His opponents are so set to defeat him that any proposal would be fought and fought hard.

Chris Paige has attended two Hazleton City Council meetings. He talks about the property tax situation in Hazleton. While denying he is a Democratic operative where is his disgust with the $466 million in debt accrured by Luzerne County mismanagers? The law he cited does not apply to Hazleton and with a little research any first year law student would have reached that conclusion. Yet, Mocarsky over at the Times Leader couldn't wait to run with the story only to have the facts blow it right out of the water.

Under the Municipal Authorities Act of 1945 and a previous court case cited by SOP all it takes is a resolution of Hazleton City Council to order the Hazleton City Authority to divest itself of the water department and the plan can become a reality. However, keep in mind that this issue is still just a proposal with all options open.

Chris Paige- Did You Read The Law You Cite?

In a quick grab of the headlines Chris Paige thought he had Lou Barletta in his sights over the proposed sale of the Hazleton City Authority-Water Department. He even had the Standard Speaker convinced.

Chris Paige, the Monroe County lawyer who is running against Barletta in the Republican primary for Congress, claims that state law requires at least 75 percent of the municipalities served by the HCA to approve the plan. He also disputes the mayor's cost projections.

Let's examine HB 893 from 2006, the law in question.

First, this law was specifically written for the City of Lebanon.

Second it defines a city as- "City." A city of the third class which has adopted a home rule charter and has a population of not more than 30,000.

Hazleton adopted the mayor/council optional plan sometimes referred to as Plan B under Act 62 of 1972, not home rule. Chris- Strike One...so that makes this law not apply to Hazleton

Secondly, according to the last census of 2000 Hazleton had a population of 23,329. In order to meet this criteria all the surrounding municipalities being serviced by HCA would have to have at least a population of 34,994 people.

According to census data Hazle Township only had a population of 9,000 people. West Hazleton had a population of 3,542. So the likelihood of the resident requirement being met is almost nill. Even if the population requirement were met the law is specific that both criteria are needed. Chris- Strike Two

It is obvious that a person who is a lawyer should be able to read the law, know the district the person wants to run for Congress in, and understand the applicability of the laws. It should be incumbent on the newspapers to do better research before accepting Mr. Paige's assessments in the future.

There is no guarantee that the water department will be sold as it is just a proposal at this point. However claims of poor water quality are bogus.
Let's use one of the public companies mentioned as a possible suitor as an example. Pennsylvania American Water maintains its own labs, researchers, scientists, and plant operators as part of ensuring water quality. Does the HCA have its own laboratories, researchers, or scientists? The answer is no.

The HCA Water Department does not even maintain a website. Here is a link to Pennsylvania American Water's page about choloramines which is the agent replacing chlorine in the disinfection process.

Comments On Stimulus Bill And Pennsylvania

Sheepherder had these comments on the provisions of the Porkulus Spendulous bill for Pennsylvania. I added a few of my own. Kanjorksi and Carney, you are free to correct anything written here, that is if you can. Keep in mind that these areas add up to over $7.2 billion dollars, the bulk of what Pennsylvania will receive. Roughly 14 percent is earmarked for road and bridge repair. Wasn't it 2007 when Rendell said government interference could stop road and bridge repair?? He stated that $532 million would be needed annually for road and bridge projects. Well thank my Obamamama. He just received two years down payment on his ten year request.

"Some $1.5 billion will go to a "state fiscal stabilization fund" to help Pennsylvania government close its budget gap."
Cut the budget? (by me, How does that create jobs? Fast Eddy made a proposal to consolidate school districts. How about consolidating voting districts and get rid of the excess legislators we have?)

"About $1.02 billion will go to state highway and bridge work, with $343 million designated for transit projects."
What happens when the highways and bridge work is complete? People will be out of work and we'll be in debt with nice roads and bridges that can't be maintained.

"About 242,000 Pennsylvania students will receive Pell grants to pay for post-secondary education."
Indebting students is not economic stimulation.

"About 4.9 million families will receive tax credits, with 138,000 students receiving college tax credits."
Tax credits do not come until the end of the year. I thought this was an urgent crisis.

"$4 billion for Medicaid health coverage for the poor."
Welfare

"Money to cover 1.2 million food stamp recipients."
Welfare

"$222 million for clean water and drinking water projects."
Clean water referendum ( by me Act 64 passed and provided $400 millionfor these projects last November).

"$258 million to weatherize homes so they are more energy efficient."
(by me, uhhh What if I want to place solar panels on my home or install a geothermal setup, or add a windmill? No weatherization there but energy efficiency)

"$73 million for law enforcement."
(by me, What happens when the money runs out. Same thing that happened before, offficers are let go)

"$92 million for job training."
(by me, What good is the training if work is not available?)