RESPONSE TO MR. GEIGER’S LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Mr. Geiger does not provide a single piece of independent financial information to support his “facts” so, while we respect his years of experience, we cannot accept his conclusion as fact.
Carefree residents are already paying substantially more for the same water as their Scottsdale neighbors and this plan will only increase that premium – THAT IS THE UNDENIABLE FACT CAREFREE RESIDENTS CANNOT IGNORE. And, that is the reason we are encouraging our Mayor and Carefree Town Council to explore a more affordable and sustainable water solution.
- Mr. Geiger shares our mutual respect for Scottsdale Water. He is on record as saying, “I would love to be on Scottsdale Water Service”. It is therefore contradictory to say this idea is “irresponsible”.
- If Carefree did not agree being served by Scottsdale Water was a good idea then why did they approach Scottsdale with this idea already?
- If Scottsdale said “no interest”, please provide details about when that meeting occurred, who was present, who from Scottsdale said “no interest”and exactly what their main objection was. Objections can typically be resolved with informed negotiation and compromise.
- Mr. Geiger indicates if Carefree did merge assets with Scottsdale (we are not suggesting selling assets), Carefree rates would still be higher than Scottsdale residents. What are the rates Scottsdale suggested? It would be helpful to compare those rates with the rates Carefree will charge after they buy back the accounts from Cave Creek, build new water storage, add the 500 plus accounts to the distribution system and upgrade the “inferior Cave Creek infrastructure”.
- The 73% plus premium Carefree residents pay today offers quite a lot of room for Scottsdale to charge a higher rate to recover the cost of the transfer while still saving Carefree residents and businesses money.
- “Carefree residents would have no control over the cost or the quality of the water delivered…”
- Carefree residents have no control over the cost now – this plan has not been put to a vote of residents. In June 2018 a video recording shows a resident asking Mayor Peterson if he would put this plan to a vote. He replies, “NO, and you don’t want me to put it to a vote – you are the 20% and they are the 80%”. The audience is predominately Carefree residents serviced by Cave Creek Water. Apparently he believes the other 80% of Carefree residents would most likely oppose his proposed plan.
- Carefree Water has no water treatment facilities. We are completely reliant on neighboring utilities for our treated water. How do we control the quality of our water when we get all our treated water from other utilities?
- The threat of a Municipal Property Tax is increasingly used by the town to encourage residents into supporting this and other projects. What retailers are going into that undeveloped parcel on Cave Creek and Carefree Highway that will provide Carefree residents any assurance Carefree will never have to implement a municipal property tax?
- How do our existing Carefree businesses feel about paying higher water rates to support future competition? Would this new competition not result in lost sales revenue for our current local businesses?
The Town of Carefree must provide detailed independent financial data to Carefree residents and local businesses so we can evaluate whether we support the current plan and allow us to compare it to an alternative solution – then give us a chance to voice our opinion by putting it to a vote in November.
Carefree Citizens for Affordable and Sustainable Water
