The Independent-News, Volume 111, Number 13, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 29 August 1985 — Page 4

4

- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS — AUGUST 29, 1985

EDITORIALS

NOT SO PROUD TO BE #1 An Associated Press story last week disclosed some facts that might have surprised many, but certainly wasn’t a complete shock to anyone who is close to the situation. The story, revealing some of the findings of the Public Service Commission’s annual survey of utility rates, disclosed that NIPSCO and Walkerton were number one in the state as far as the top of the electric rates are concerned. This survey includes utility companies and municipal utilities. It went on to explain that municipal utilities are usually lower due to the structure of buying and reselling as compared to investor-owned utilities. Walkerton buys their electric power wholesale from NIPSCO, but still managed to rank second over all only trailing NIPSCO in overall rates. The findings disclosed that taking a statewide average price for 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, considered to be typical monthly useage for a family, is $68.00. However, for NIPSCO customers the 1,000 kilowatt hours of power cost $105.64 while Walkerton was right behind with $104.56. This tells a couple of stories. First of all, it is known that NIPSCO has had higher rates for several reasons, some not completely their fault, and others, due to their choice of operations, are now higher as they have done more work to satisfy the environmental regulations than most other utility companies. Over the coming years, NIPSCO should become closer to the other utilities. It is also known that the aborted Bailey Nuclear Plant has an effect on this and that is still being settled in a court case to see if these charges can be passed on to the consumers or whether it will have to be absorbed entirely by the utility. As for Walkerton, they buy their power from NIPSCO. The present Town Board has sent a letter of termination with NIPSCO at the end of their current contract, but still haven’t reached any solution to future purchasing and rates. However, this is only part of the problem. It is no secret that several other communities buy wholesale from NIPSCO and pass it on to their customers but Walkerton ranks higher than all those. Somewhere along the line Walkerton is spending too much to pass this power on to their customers. This is one area where the Town of Walkerton needs to be concerened. The present Town Board came into office almost two years ago with their sights set on overspending, especially, according to some of the individuals, in the Police Department. Possibly this was the wrong department to start on. This Town Board also stated early in their term that they were going to study every department, but the emphasis of revamping the Police Department seemed to die out after that department was settled. The electric department is a big business . . . and consequently must be handled as any business, as carefully as possible. In addition to trying to purchase power wholesale at lower rates, some close observation should be given to the local operation. There can be more savings at home than is the case right now. The overall result is that Walkerton’s electric customers are paying too much for the power. When you have a couple of supermarkets paying between SI,OOO and $1,500 per week for electricity ... yes per week . . . you have some extremely high overhead. We don’t know just how this affects industries, but it can’t be as healthy as could be and that could pose problems on continued growth of industry in Walkerton. We will try to investigate this situation further and hope that this becomes the number one priority of the Walkerton Town Board. This is one time when everyone is not proud to say “We’re Number 1!”

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE “h’s The Principle Os The Thing” The signs may say “Welcome to Walkerton” — but that certainly isn’t what we got! It has been over a year since our first billing of 22,700 gallons of water over-charge. Many townspeople are asking our average since that time. Beginning June, 1984 to present, our water billings are as follows: June, 1984 , 22,700 gal.; July, 8,300; Aug., 4,300; Sept., 4,100; Oct. 3,900; Nov., 4,600; Dec., 4,600; Jan., 1985, 4,600; Feb., 6,500; March, 5,300; April, 4,400; May, 4,100; June, 3,100; and July, 3,100, for an average of 4,383 per month over the past 12 months. For the year, excluding exorbitant 22,700 gallons for June, 1984 (our first month in Walkerton — and too-high 8,300 gallons in July) for the following 12 months our monthly water useage average is 4,383 gallons per month. We had only the meter readings

given us by the Walkerton Town Office, which went up then down in numbers, and certainly made us question how a meter could run forward and backward. At the time our water meter was changed, we received a meter reading slip with three different readings from the old meter. To date, we still have not received a meter change slip, giving the reading the new meter started at, which we understand is the proper procedure. On our Walkerton Town Office records, erasures/whiteouts are evident regarding this transaction. I have it figured we used 2,200 gallons of water in June, 1984 — 22,700 gallons. From June, 1984 to time of this writing (August 26, 1985) our residence still has not had any changes or repairs for any plumbing "leak” or leaks. It has really puzzled me as to why our first month, June 1984 water over-charge has been handled so hush-hush — with no explanations to customer. Again in January, 1985 when 1 attempted to show Walkerton Clerk-Treasurer

where the errors are on their records, she gave me flippant replies such as: "I can't see your meter from here”, “1 would have no way of knowing that”, and "It’s after the fact", etc. The former resident couldn’t find her last billing, so it wasn't until after I requested, by certified mail, records from the Walkerton Town Office which revealed former resident’s yearly average was 11,533 gallon per month, which included several 13,400 gallon per month useages. There last month (actually 27 days) the former resident was charged for 3,300 gallons — this last month charge should have been for 13,300 gallons — as their yearly average proves. Os course this mistake was not made by the former resident, but it is a 10,000 gallon mistake made by Walkerton Town Office, for which we have over-paid. The balance of the over-charges are computer errors, where a zero was inserted after figures, instead of a comma. Walkerton Town Office won’t listen to my attempts to explain where the errors were, so this is the only recourse I can take to explain our unfair billings. There is a difference in people. Each time I returned from the Walkerton Town Office, I wished Darryl Eddinger were the Clerk-Treasurer! Darryl would have found the errors — and he would have been pleasant and gracious about me bringing errors to his attention. Darryl is remembered. We didn’t initiate this frustrating situation. Yes, we were "newcomers" to Walkerton, but not to Indiana. My mother was bom in Plymouth, and we have relatives throughout the state. However, this shouldn’t make a difference, as neither newcomers — nor local native residents should be "rippedoff". Especially since World War 11, there has been a greater influx of people relocating nationwide. Usually, it’s the custom of Americans to accept "newcomers" as a general way of life and growth — not resent them — or their principles of upholding what is right and fair. Surely many insiders, or local native residents, have children, grandchildren and great-grand-children who have relocated to other areas where they are not treated as "outsiders”. We have lived in several states, however, this is the first time we seem to be foreigners on American soil. In any of the other small towns we’ve lived in, we would have received a gracious public apology and a reimbursement (had such an incident ever occured). I believe Walkerton Town Office owes us this, with also a 24,000 gallon water credit. Our utility bills are paid in full to date, again disproving Walkerton Gerk-Treasurer’s accusation that we were "seeking free water”. This situation — regarding first billing 22,700 gallon water overcharge — and the way it has been handled by Town personnel, is a cruel, deceitful, slanderous way to welcome new taxpayers. Shirley Magner Come And Apologize Trici — Thomas — Party — B.F. four times was etched 12 times on our new concrete driveway. Too deep to be sanded out. Done by Koontz Lake vandals. Children who haven’t been taught to set their goals high. We have a Neighborhood Watch sign tacked to a post. It scares no one. Parents, come and apologize. Charges will be dropped. Roscoe & Ruth Smeltzer Route 3, Box 464 Koontz Lake The first automatic pop-up electric toaster was marketed in June, 1926. it received one slice of toast at a time.

SAVINGS GALORE WITH A ★ WIN* lIOW 0N COUPON BOOK SALE IN AREA UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 John Glenn High School opening varsity football game at Hammond. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31 Fall Festival at Tracy United Methodist Church, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Fall Festival at Tracy United Methodist Church, 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. Franzen Bros. Circus, Place Park, Walkerton, performances at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m. Dance at Walkerton Fire Station from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Proceeds to benefit Muscular .Dystrophy FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Fish Fry at the Grovertown Conservation Club, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. First John Glenn home football game at 7:30 p.m., “Merchants’ Night’’. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 WIN Cookout at the Farmers State Bank parking lot, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 10th annual Trail of Courage Rendezvous at Rochester, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Also on Sunday. “Old Timers Night” at John Glenn football game, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 John Glenn High School Football “Homecoming”, game at 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Tyner 1.0.0. F. Lodge Fish Fry, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Tyner Fire Station. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1 Drawing at the Farmers State Bank for WIN Coupon trip to Chicago Bears football game, lodging, meal, etc. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 John Glenn Parent/Senior Night at the Culver football game, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 & 19 Fall Festival in Walkerton. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 Drawings to be held for WIN Coupon Book promotion including a new car, at the Walkerton Fall Festival. ■mw■Mmmmm■■mm■ m xb bb M n M m oi r | EMERGENCY I I NUMBERS • 1 (Clip And Place By Your Phone) { WALKERTON । i Police Department 586-3511 J ! Fire Department 586-3211 J ] WEMSA (Ambulance) ... 586-2011 1 } NORTH LIBERTY } i Police Department 656-4411 ■ } Fire Department 656-34561 i Liberty Twp. Ambulance 656-3434} | Sheriff Department 656-3331 } i LaPorte Hospital 586-2096} | Polk Twp. Fire Dept. ... 936-89671 ! STARKE COUNTY • ! Koontz Lake Fire Dept. . 586-2314 ! } Koontz Lake Ambulance 586-2120 } Starke County Ambulance } 1-800-552-2403 } J Starke County Police } i. 1-800-552-2403 i [State Police 1-800-552-8917 } ** M ** oß * ■■ ■■ ■■ an an mb an an an bm an an an mb an a^