Water Company Deal May Soak Taxpayers
* We are writing on behalf of the Santa Paula Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce regarding the buyout of the Santa Paula Water Co. We have mixed feelings about this purchase.
First, we acknowledge that the purchase of the water company is an excellent idea, long awaited, and a way to control our destiny in avoiding unnecessary rate increases in the future.
But we would like to go on record as opposed to the manner in which the city negotiated the terms of the purchase. The city staff, without making it public and with the blessings of the City Council, made a decision without legal negotiations and a study of structural values, water quality treatment and ramifications the city will encounter in the future. Consultants were hired only to finalize the transaction.
Understanding the law behind eminent domain, the city is only obligated to pay the actual value of the property in question and not the asking price of $18 million. The legal process would be a long crusade but potentially rewarding. However, the city decided to pay the price and the community will be forced to pay.
FERMIN PEREZ
JIM TOVIAS
VICTOR SALAS SR.
Santa Paula
Fermin Perez is president of the Santa Paula Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce. Jim Tovias is secretary, and Victor Salas Sr. is treasurer.
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