I just received another “Vote for Jan Heichel” piece of literature on my door around 3 p.m. today. As with all campaign literature, I read it - mostly out of curiosity to see if it was different from the first one. It was different for sure. The following is on the back:
“NO CANDIDATE CAN PROMISE a solution for the Ohio American Water issue. If that were the case, the problems would already be resolved. During my involvement in a previous homeowner’s association years ago, I actively fought against the water rate increases. Clearly, this approach today has not been successful.”
When I read these words, I had a number of thoughts. One, I am left to conclude that if Jan Heichel gets elected, there is little hope for our neighborhood in solving the water issue. Might as well put the For Sale sign up. When Mrs. Heichel refers to a previous homeowner’s association fighting this rate increase, she is correct in saying this happened years ago. It had to be over 22 years ago. Maybe I missed the literature during my 22 years here, but I do not recall any fight after 1987 until James Welch, president of the HRAA, was notified by letter from OAW (as a courtesy) and as a result of that letter, Jim got to work. He notified residents and then the fight began and continues. That was four years ago. We have had three rate increases in four years. Jim’s involvement clearly got results with the first one - a reduction, improvements, and summer/winter rates. That is an accomplishment, is it not?
Prior to Jim’s involvement, this is how we were notified of a rate increase - we received an insert in our bill from the water company in essence saying: SURPRISE!!!! Your rates have gone up! Why the insert and why AFTER the fact? Because through Jim’s involvement and because we have an organized association, the HRAA, I learned that with every rate increase OUR TRUSTEES RECEIVED NOTIFICATION (by law) from OAW that they were going to apply for a rate increase. We, however, never heard from our trustees that there were rate cases pending and that we should write letters to voice opposition. Can anyone in this neighborhood tell me when they were officially notified by a trustee that a rate increase was pending between the years of 1987 and 2009?
The people who knew about rate increase applications should have informed those of us who were ignorant about the process and not given up hope because “the [association] approach was not successful.” Had our trustees led the way years ago legislation could have already been on the books or some other solution may have resulted from their ACTIVE involvement. There were no solutions, no fights, that I recall after 1987. Instead our community suffered - good people [who had the means] moved out of the neighborhood for two big reasons - water/sewer rates and blight. Since Stewart Flaherty has been on board, the blight problem is being addressed. He is also serious about solving the water problem and offers hope.
My point in all this is, if Mrs. Heichel [who boasts that she is the only candidate who has lived in Blendon township for 35 years] has not been actively working on a solution to this problem all these years, then why should we believe that she will [suddenly] lead the fight in a new direction or any direction for that matter as a paid trustee? Why wait to be a trustee to work on the neighborhood?
James Welch did not wait; he jumped in with both feet. He has been tirelessly working for four years and has done so as a volunteer. Stew Flaherty has been our trustee a little over two years and he also has been working on this EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ISSUE. I intend to vote for these two men who have been working on this and other issues actively seeking solutions for the last two to four years.
Pam Clegg
I just received another “Vote for Jan Heichel” piece of literature on my door around 3 p.m. today. As with all campaign literature, I read it - mostly out of curiosity to see if it was different from the first one. It was different for sure. The following is on the back:
“NO CANDIDATE CAN PROMISE a solution for the Ohio American Water issue. If that were the case, the problems would already be resolved. During my involvement in a previous homeowner’s association years ago, I actively fought against the water rate increases. Clearly, this approach today has not been successful.”
When I read these words, I had a number of thoughts. One, I am left to conclude that if Jan Heichel gets elected, there is little hope for our neighborhood in solving the water issue. Might as well put the "For Sale" sign up. When Mrs. Heichel refers to a previous homeowner’s association fighting this rate increase, she is correct in saying this happened years ago. It had to be over 22 years ago. Maybe I missed the literature during my 22 years here, but I do not recall any fight after 1987 until James Welch, president of the HRAA, was notified by letter from OAW (as a courtesy). As a result of that letter, Jim got to work. He notified residents and then the fight began and continues. That was four years ago. We have had three rate increases in four years. Jim’s involvement clearly got results with the first one - a reduction, improvements, and summer/winter rates. That is an accomplishment, is it not?
Prior to Jim’s involvement, this is how we were notified of a rate increase - we received an insert in our bill from the water company in essence saying: SURPRISE!!!! Your rates have gone up! Why the insert and why AFTER the fact? Because through Jim’s involvement and because we have an organized association, the HRAA, I learned that with every rate increase our trustees received notification (by law) from the water company they (OAW or Citizens) were going to apply for a rate increase. We, however, never heard from our trustees that there were rate cases pending and that we should write letters to voice opposition. Can anyone in this neighborhood tell me when they were officially notified by a trustee that a rate increase was pending between the years of 1987 and 2009?
The people who knew about rate increase applications should have informed those of us who were ignorant about the process and not given up hope because “the [association] approach was not successful.” Had our trustees led the way years ago legislation could have already been on the books or some other solution may have resulted from their ACTIVE involvement. There were no solutions, no fights that I recall after 1987. Instead our community suffered - good people [who had the means] moved out of the neighborhood for two big reasons - water/sewer rates and blight. Since Stewart Flaherty has been on board, the blight problem is being addressed. He is also serious about solving the water problem and offers hope.
My point in all this is, if Mrs. Heichel [who boasts that she is the only candidate who has lived in Blendon township for 35 years] has not been actively working on a solution to this problem all these years, then why should we believe that she will [suddenly] lead the fight in a new direction (or any direction for that matter) as a paid trustee? Why wait to be a trustee to work on the neighborhood?
James Welch did not wait; he jumped in with both feet. He has been tirelessly working for four years and has done so as a volunteer. Stew Flaherty has been our trustee a little over two years and he also has been working on this EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ISSUE. It should be obvious where my votes will go.
Pam Clegg
