Hello Neighbors.
I apologize in advance for this lengthy post, but I think it is a crucial one. Of course in the end you all are individuals and I trust have the intelligence to make a well educated, fact based decision.
Please do not construe this as a personal attack as I would like to quote and address some of your comments
I am not new to the community nor a board member, but I am new to the Website & I consider the administrators , Mike and Noreen friends. I believe this is a noble attempt at bringing the community together for the “better” of all.
I have taken my time in reading most if not all of the posts, especially the ones concerning our sewer systems and the suggestion by the board of becoming a co-operative community. I clearly see that although intentions are good there is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding. Mike recently asked me my thoughts on this whole Co-Op and PUC situation to be addressed at the annual meeting. I honestly told him what I thought based on what little information I had, but I promised that I would personally make it a point to find out as much of the facts as I could. What I found is that the decision to become a Co-Op is for the greater good, and in no means a plight to control anything or anyone, much less take anyone’s property or rights. NO ONE IS LOSING THEIR HOME as a result of this. Let me try and convey what I found out. Please know that this information is public and not from the board of directors.
Georgie porgie said:“From what I understand, it is the job of the PUC to determine what rate a utility company can charge its customers, whether for sewer service, water service, electric services or anything else that may fall within certain parameters, it is also my understanding that any increase of monthly charges by said service providers, would need the approval of the PUC with a valid reason for approval of such increases.” -You are correct so far. I have taken the time to research the PPUC a little further. Feel free to do so yourselves
www.puc.state.pa.us In regards to Penn Estates you stated…
Penn Estate developemnet is service by Utilities Inc and it is under the P.U.C. with the following rates
the base charge is 9.20 Dollars a month for water plus usage, and 34.29 Dollars a month for sewer service, the good news is, they are under the P.U.C - George, The Utilies Inc. Company owns and manages over 300,000 consumers throughout the United States. It makes sense that they are regulated by the PUC. Realize they own and maintain Water supply and Wastewater systems.
PUC regulates the Utilities Inc CO., not Penn Estate. It is my understanding that we would be the first “community “ to be regulated by PUC. As there are no other communities being regulated by PUC. Believe me, if this happens to us it will spread to all other communities. Not a bad thing if your system is up to par and working efficiently. Not so our case.
www.uiwater.com I researched their site as well and looked up the annual report for Penn Estates. You can do the same. It seems they are mainly documenting the “Water System and not the Waste Water, infact there was no information for wastewater management.
Mr. Mike Shelley’s question…
Could we just co-op the Sewer corp? What problems would that cause. What are the other developments doing?
Seems to me either way it's going to cost us money. (So what else is new).
Thanks! Good luck to all of us! becomming a co-op so far doesn't seem to be a good idea.”“
That is exactly what the Board of directors is suggesting. AGAIN:There is no way they can control or take our homes. Please relinquish this thought. SLCA was given an ultimatum. Either to become a Co-Op or be regulated By the PUC. The PPUC is an associate member of NARUC ( National Association of regulatory Utility Commissioners) NARUC is an association representing the State public service commissioners who regulate essential utility services, such as electricity, gas, telecommunications, water, and transportation, throughout the country. As regulators, our members are charged with protecting the public and ensuring that rates charged by regulated utilities are fair, just, and reasonable. The PPUC is on their Board of directors Treasurer is Mr. Wendell F. Holland of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The other members are from other states.
You can visit & research ion your own at
www.naruc.org . This is where the PPUC gets its backing( The Federal Government). Now, you would say this is a good thing for our community, herein lies our dilemma. SLCA OWNS THE SEWER CORP. (Guess what? That’s you and me folks) Not the Board of directors. We are responsible for its maintenance and management.
Someone else posted the following
:“Sounds to me like we should organize a class action lawsuit against the SLCA if they did mismanage sewer funds, and breach their fiduciary duty. They are responsible for the "operation, care, upkeep, maintenance, and replacement of the common areas and property of the Association and each of the corporations". This includes the sewer corporation.[/size] - Really? Sue SLCA? Most people here are griping about the measly fees (compared to other communities)we have to pay now, and you suggest spending an undetermined amount of money, to basically sue ourselves? The board has been sued before and where do you think the legal fees came from? Ourselves.
Some of us have been paying sewer dues for over 20 years and now that it's crumbling beneath us they want to pass it off, there's a moratorium on building because the pipes are in such bad shape that groundwater leaks in, and they have the nerve to ask us to convert it to a co-op making us take responsibility for it. -With all due respect, WE “ARE” RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. We have had and still have the liability!
Rule of thumb, when the board holds a special meeting, listen to what they want you to do, and do the exact opposite. –Smaaart. Is this what you want us to do? I’d like to give the people here the benefit of the doubt and believe them capable of making their own decisions.
PS: What they are saying is: we SLCA do not want to own the sewer corp. -WE OWN IT MIKE.
Getting back to the PPUC, They are established and abide by Pennsylvania Code. You can visit their site
www.pacode.com Chapter 94. Is the MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT section.
PLEASE READ CLEARLY THIS IS WHAT CONFRONTS US AS A COMMUNITY…If we are to be regulated by the PUC They will mandate our sewer system be brought up to par and at least meet minimal statndards . We as the owners are responsible for the “
ELIGBLE COST”. According to a PENNSYLVANIA STATUTE – as defined in the “DEFINITIONS” section of the document … I quote:
"Eligible cost." The cost of all labor, materials, machinery and equipment, lands, property, rights and easements, plans and specifications, surveys or estimates of costs and revenues, pre-feasibility studies, engineering and legal services, and all other expenses necessary or incident to the acquisition, construction, improvement, expansion, extension, repair or rehabilitation of all or part of a project.
Also:
Project." The eligible costs associated with the acquisition, construction, improvement, expansion, extension, repair , rehabilitation or security measures of all or part of any facility or system, whether publicly or, in the case of paragraph (1) or (2), privately owned:
(1) for the collection, treatment or disposal of wastewater, including industrial waste;
THIS WILL COST MILLIONS! WE (SLCA) ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THAT BILL. I GUARANTEE YOU THE PPUC IS NOT GOING TO PAY A PENNY OF IT! If you think you can’t afford the fees now…. Just wait.
Once we are regulated it is my understanding that it is like taxes, MANDATORY. If for some reason you cannot pay, you have the option of going on a payment plan. If you default..Now you may want to start worrying about losing your property
If we vote yes to the CO-OP of the Sewer corporation there are “Government Grants” available for such undertakings. NARUC states this in their website. The US grants are not offered to private communites.
LOOK, I know that there are a lot of people unhappy with the board of directors. I know there are as lot of questions that need to be answered. I believe if you keep digging you will find those answers. I know there are allegations and suspicions of corruption. But does anyone here have any concrete evidence?... of anything? If so, What are they? Come forward with it, really in a court of law Concrete Evidence is what counts not circumstantial. All I hear are questions being asked and a lot of hearsay, and nothing but NEGATIVITY. Come to think of it has anyone offered any positive energy here?
If you simply have a problem with the Board? Okay then here is a very simple yet effective solution! APPLY & BECOME a board member yourself! Then you can see and will know firsthand the ins and outs of these people. Keep in mind these people are “volunteers” who by the way, pay their dues and taxes like you and me. This means that you have to give up your personal time away from your family. Try and do the best you can for your community, because you also live there. Do you think you can make a difference? What would you do? How would you do it? I have also heard yearnings for dismantling the board and doing away with the community. I would have to ask those for this outcome. How on earth does that help property owners? In my opinion that would do more harm than good.
Who will maintain anything? Who will plow our roads? I bet we are not on the townships priority list. It would be days before they get done. Who will continue whatever maintenance is being done now, You? Please, always think things through carefully and sensibly. Keep the end result in mind. I know that there are people who are set in their ways and even though you clearly show them the color white they’ll say it is black, & that is fine for that is their right, but make your own decisions based on facts look into things for yourselves. Don’t just say, Wow this must be true because it came from someone who’s not on the board. You just don’t know. We must stop this aggression it is no way to solve anything. If you declare war on war you are just as guilty for the injustices of the very war you say you are against, and in the end you will have solved nothing (Understand?). I hope that everyone in this community keep an open mind and are able to make their own educated decisions and not follow blindly anyone with a personal ax to grind if so again I say, in the end WE the community lose.
Any way, thank you for allowing me share these findings and express my personal opinion.
Good luck to us all.