User Fees Should Be Equitable

Opinion

October 9, 2009

letters to the editor

by Rex A. Welty, Somerset, KY 42503 The Commonwealth Journal Fri Oct 09, 2009, 09:40 AM EDT

Note: The Commonwealth Journal has been asked to share the fxollowing correspondence to Burnside Mayor Chuck Foremam.

Dear Mayor Foreman:

I have read about the negotiations with Kentucky State Government pertaining to the sewer access the state wishes to be granted.

I agree that certain consideration be granted to the state pertaining to certain fees. However, user fees, which all citizens pay, should be fair and equitable to the citizenry who paid for the system.

I believe the City of Burnside, along with other consideration, should ask that the three pools near the entrance to the island be opened and operated as in past years. The pools suddenly closed at the same time SomerSplash Park opened, which appears like a consideration to get people count up at the new Splash Park. The citizens, our children and grandchildren relied on the pools as a relaxing, safe area that was affordable.

I would like to request the council seek, as part of the sewer access agreement with the state, issuance of free annual passes to all families in the city limits paying for and hooked to the city sewers.

All four of my children and nine grandchildren live out of state and visit us once every summer. They have been very disappointed with the closing of the island pools and can’t afford the costs of going to the Splash Park.

As an additional consideration, I feel the citizenry of Burnside should be given a preferred discount rate at the golf course.

I believe a substantial number of Burnside residents are on fixed retirement incomes, have semi-skilled labor jobs and lower median incomes. The recreational facilities tied into Burnside need to lift the available recreation facilities to a standard that its citizens can afford.

Please share this letter with your city council and discuss the assets it would mount for the city.

Sincerely yours,

Rex A. Welty

Somerset, KY 42503

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