Where is Capac?

[Who]

Does the government work for the citizens, or do the citizens work for the government? That is the debate.

On Sept. 24, 2007, Port Huron's City Council voted to raise your water/sewer rates by 12.2% with automatic annual increases for the next four years totaling a 66% increase. The prior City Council adopted the city administration's proposed budget without one change. It raised your water rates by 66%; eliminated the city's Drug Awareness Resistance Education officer; reduced six fire department positions; eliminated lifeguards on our beaches; and raised all recreation fees.

The public outcry was loud, swift and certain. Only two council members were re-elected. The message was simple and clear: "Enough is enough; no water or sewer-rate increases."

One of the first actions of the newly-elected council was to rescind the automatic water-and-sewer-rate increases. No longer would the City Council be able to hide behind automatic annual increases to your water and sewer bills.

Every future rate increase to your bill now will be made by a council vote in a public forum. In other words, you, the citizens, now have a voice in every future rate increase. I view that as a win for the citizens of Port Huron.

The current recommended budget calls for water-and-sewer-rate increases of 5%. I am convinced that if your current council had not voted to repeal the automatic rate increases, you still would be facing the 11.2% rate increase approved by the previous council.

Water is a necessary commodity. City residents have no choice: They must purchase their water-and-sewer services from the city.

There is no free market competition for your water-and-sewer services. You are held captive by whatever rates the council approves. If you choose not to purchase water service from the municipal water system, by law, the city will condemn and padlock your home.

Water is necessary for life and health. It should be affordable to all city residents.

On Sept. 24, when I dared to question the need for the increase and asked about other cuts in the city budget, the city manager suggested my historic ball club could volunteer to man the fire stations and other city departments.

Frankly, this sort of condescending attitude to both citizens and council members disturbs me. All city workers, elected or hired, are public servants. Elitist attitudes have no place in City Hall.

Does the government work for the citizens, or do the citizens work for the government? Past actions have proven our city manager believes you work to support City Hall. That is wrong.

You do not have to sit back and take confiscatory water rate increases or high taxes. You have the right to demand financial accountability of your city government.

After all, it is your money.

James M. Fisher is mayor pro-tem of Port Huron.

[Election-Recall]

Capac elected people who were supposed force our governemnt to be fiscally responsible have failed. We have been sorely disspointed. For those who were elected for four year terms, recalls are in order. They lied. For those elected for two year terms, those seats need to be filled with officials who represent THE PEOPLE. GET READY CAPAC!!!! It is time for the political games to end and for the liars to be forced out of office. We need strong people capable of bringing about change and unity. It is time for cuts in village government expenditures. It is time for increased costs to the taxpayers to stop. It is time for essetntial service cuts to stop. No more!!! Those who lied to us must go, those who promised to serve on behalf of the people must be held accountable. Elections are in November. Recall petitions for two council members will begin in short order. It is time for Capac citizens to demand representation on the council. It is time for the village to cut costs, not in essential services but rather in government, the fastest growing sector in Capac. While people are losing their homes and population is decreasing, village government is growing and so is the amount we are being charged for it. The cost of governing Capac has far exceeded any growth in jobs, in costs and in services. It is time to put the breaks on the out of control government spending. It is time to demand the friends and family plan stop, the Hargrave weekenders stop, the outrageous, unprofessional behavior to stop. Change is in the air. Wake up Capac, we will be calling on you soon.

[run]

do you plan to run?

[Election-Recall]

I don't plan to but I might change my mind. I am not of the notion that in order to be properly represented by one's government one must become a politician. It is simply un-American. I pay taxes here, I pay extreme utility bills, I have a right to request that my government behave, abide by the law and be fiscally responsible, without having to run. We all have that right. Capac is still part of the USA last time I checked.