City to OK borrowing for reservoir

City Council members are slated to give City Manager Randy Hildebrandt the go-ahead Tuesday to borrow $20 million for about 3,000 acres needed for the controversial King William reservoir.

[nndef]

Water rates won't go up because of this because they already went up when NN waterworks moved to Port Warwick and our 3 month bill became a 2 month bill. That's 2 extra bills per year per household. It was the rate increase that keeps on giving. Creative? You BET!!

[addie jeanette best]

do not fuss about water shortage and still borrow money to build and sell more water.

[Realtor has a conscience]

The Daily Press is so one-sided in its reporting of the King Wm Boondoggle Reservoir it smells sticky sweet of collusion...oh I get it...make Newport News the water czar with the rubber hose...get in bed with Joe "bulldozer" Frank...destroy Endview and Lee Hall for more developement...increase circulation...make more profits...my questions are these...Where is the un-biased reporting that graphically shows the $283 million already spent in the last 10 years and the increase in water rates piled on the citizens of N. News? Why did the King Wm Board vote against spending $20 million and what are the chances they will be able to take on the debt load in a few years as this article suggests? What is the impact on the families that own this land to be taken for the Reservoir...how much are they being compensated and are they receiving "fair market value"? Are the other localities so neutered and lacking of solutions that they are being led like mindless zombies by the Master Puppeteer Randy Hildebrant? Are there no other options for fresh water?

[Estimated Prophet]

The most disturbing part of this article is the subheadline. "Getting $20 million for the project will save money in the short run, officials say." They are openly admitting that their thinking is short term. It should read "Getting $20 million for the project will cost more money in the long run, officials say."

I predict this project will be like the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority Mayor Frank tried to ram through, forcing the Va Supreme Court to protect us by declaring it unconstitutional. It was a project conceived behind closed doors by big developers for the benefit of big developers at taxpayer's expense.

I predict state and federal litigation against it will eventually prevail. That and a change in NN City "leadership" is what will save us money in the long term.

[Judy]

What kind of mastermind conceived this latest plan for the reservoir that should never happen. Randy strikes again. There are no guarantees that the permits will be issued...so why spend 20M..with more to come...on land that we won't need?

[Neal Furgurson]

In response to this:
"Harris said that in the short term, the deal would save the city money".What about the long term? Will Newport News' population EVER be large enough to justify this type of spending? Is the environmental damage, the largest loss of wetlands since the clean water act was initiated, worth it? What if you DON'T want to sell your family property to Newport News? Will the city use power of eminent domain to take the property?

What about the proposal of the City Manager, that City Council give him "blanket authority" to acquire wetland mitigation property? What does that mean, BLANKET AUTHORITY? Given the city's spending and debt track record this just doesn't seem like a "smart" move.

There are just too many questions for my liking, and too few real answers coming from the city.

Sincerely,

Neal Furgurson

[Jimmy P]

Here's something the Daily Press should investigate. How much does Waterworks transfer to the City of Newport News for operating, debt service and so-called "indirect costs" anually? We, the Waterworks customers (not citizens of NN) are subsidizing the operations of the City.

[Israel-Gaelic-Wa les]

Obviously predictable: this generation and the next and the next pay for BAD PLANNING.

Not only am I against the King William Reservoir, it is insulting, enviroment does not prosper with "killing the waterways" for water.

Come folks, this is a BAD idea. Can't you expand what you currently have? Although after years of confusing discussions on the part of NN and needs, Go to VA beach and get the damned thing going.

Destruction after destruction, what is going to be left for future generations? Water?

[Herman King]

Step right up...you can borrow all the money you want from China. They already own us, anyway.