The Independent-News, Volume 121, Number 25, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 2 November 1995 — Page 8

— INDEPENDENT NEWS — NOVEMBER 2, 1995

Twelve years ago, I served the Town of Walkerton as a member of the Town Council. When I took office, the Walkerton Electric Utility was in the red $98,000. An Electrical Advisory Board was formed, consisting of two Town Council members, two consumers, and two business representatives. This board spent many hours setting up their first electrical budget, monitoring expenditures, and regulating rates. After completing this budget, the Board would meet at least twice a year to monitor the operating of the utility. Because of this fiscal management, when NIPSCO sent its rate increase every February, the consumers rate stayed the same. When I left office, the electric utility had been stabilized and was in the black. The Town Council president was advised approximately one and a half years ago that a rate adjustment was needed, but no meetings of the Electrical Advisory Board were scheduled. In 1995, our electric utility anticipates a projected loss in excess of $200,000. It is important to me that Walkerton keeps its municipality, and if elected, I will endeavor to get

NOV. 7 FOR GREG WILLIAMS

the utilities stabilized again. As taxpayers of St. Joseph County, we should wonder why we have the only 24 hour dispatch center in the county without a 911 monitor and printer. The 911 system was promised to Walkerton five years ago. All of the other dispatch centers in St. Joseph County have been provided with the monitoring equipment to provide direct access of 911, with the exception of Walkerton. What does that exception mean to you? It means that when one of our citizens dials 911, the call is routed through the St. Joseph County dispatch center, who calls the Walkerton dispatch center, which in turn dispatches the necessary emergency equipment and personnel. This procedure costs our citizens minutes, when minutes could mean lives. If elected, I will try to get the equipment the residents of Walkerton deserve and which was promised to them. I am running for the At-Large position on the Walkerton Town Council and hope you will give me your support.

\LU S GREG WILLIAMS Paid Pol. Adv.