Rate increase for cleanup ridiculous

I read with amusement the Thursday article that the utility increase was voted in by our astute city fathers (and daughter). Was there ever any doubt? The North Everett “good old boys club” votes in a block in favor of most new fees and taxes and special interests.

I see nothing in this article that substantiates the need for this amount of increase. Thirteen new city employees? Guess by the dozen is better than singles. Cleanup for the bend in the river? As stated previously on these pages — just maybe if the city would have sold this property at market value, there would have been enough dollars to clean it up. But that doesn’t matter to “the good old boys club,” they will just charge the ratepayers.

I believe that most of the water districts in Snohomish County buy a percentage, if not all, of their water from the city of Everett courtesy of Spada Lake. I would like to know why these other municipalities’ rates were not raised for these pseudo-necessary infrastructure improvements? Where does the money go that is charged to these other municipalities?

And Mr. Thetford, I really don’t care what all the other area residents pay for their utilities. I live in Everett, be it south Everett. I am sure with all these added millions for bonds and cleanup some will be skimmed off to the “good ole boys” special interests (toys). Such as the river project and the kids’ theater. Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot … “those trains have already left the station.”

Jim Epperson