Water Your Thoughts - Election Day Wastewater

On November 5, you will have the opportunity decide on local issues that directly affect you: county sales tax, LCCC levy, Avon Lake Council At-Large positions, Avon Lake School Board and three items affecting Avon Lake Municipal Utilities. That’s right. Items related to your water and wastewater account for nearly half of the boxes you will check on November 5.

You may sometimes feel that politics is similar to wastewater. In this case, politics affects wastewater (water, too); and your ballot choices can influence the rates you pay and future service.

Board member elections

Every two years, you elect members to serve on the Board of Municipal Utilities—the governing body of ALMU. Board members elected by popular vote represent you as they make decisions that provide you with clean water and reclaim your wastewater—a constant, multimillion dollar affair. In this election, you will vote to fill two Board positions. David Marquard II (the Board’s current chair) is seeking re-election. Timothy Rush (former Ward I Council representative and Charter Review Commission chair) and CJ Tyree (Charter Review Commission member) are both seeking election to the Board.

Ballot issues 3 and 4

Ballot Issue 3 relates to the composition of the Board of Municipal Utilities. What many people don’t realize is, unlike Cleveland, Avon Lake’s water and wastewater functions are not actually a department of the city. Since Avon Lake’s original 1951 Charter, these functions are governed by a board elected directly by Avon Lake voters. Issue 3 proposes to add the mayor and a member of the City Council as non-elected, non-voting members of the Board. Voters will need to decide whether it is in the City’s best interest for the mayor and a Council member to be required to attend ALMU Board meetings or whether their time is better spent on other issues.

I will vote “No” on Issue 3. Here’s why. The relative independence of these separately elected bodies has worked well, allowing each to focus on its own responsibilities. Avon Lakers pay some of the lowest water and wastewater rates in the state, and customers give ALMU high marks. The separateness has allowed us to regionalize water and wastewater services—sometimes working with jurisdictions that might have political agendas that compete with Avon Lake. ALMU and the City of Avon Lake have lots of interaction during the course of doing business. The mayor and Council are always welcome to (and do) attend our meetings. But our Board members are elected by you for the explicit purpose of guiding ALMU’s future; and, I, along with many water professionals across the country, believe politics and water are best kept separate.

Ballot Issue 4 would insert clarifying language into the charter regarding how the City and ALMU handle procurement. Passage of Issue 4 would confirm two things that save taxpayers money. First, it confirms the City and ALMU can join in existing state buying programs, such as vehicle pricing agreements, as well as enter into group-purchase agreements with other jurisdictions. Second, it confirms the City and ALMU have the freedom to modify bidding procedures through ordinance or regulation. For example, under Ohio law, the estimated price for a project must be published. We have long held that a sealed estimate provides better pricing. The changes put forth by Issue 4 give us that freedom.

ALMU is your water and wastewater service provider. Questions/comments? Contact us via phone (440-933-6226), email, social media (Facebook/Twitter), or in person (201 Miller Road). You can also learn more by watching our semi-monthly Board Recap Show on ALC-TV’s government channel (TW 12 or Wow! 21) at 4:30AM/PM and 10:30AM/PM or logging on to avonlake.pegcentral.com to see recap shows or Board meetings. Our mission: Healthy customers, healthy environment through sustainable water management.