Last August Oshkosh residents were hit with hefty rate increases for water and sewer. At the time, just out of curiousity, I asked Director of Public Works David Patek in open session and via email how much the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) paid in sewer fees. Here's what I found out from Mr. Patek:
*In 2007, the EAA convention delivered a total of 1,350,500 gallons of sewage to the Treatment Plant (as opposed to 1,353,500 gallons in 2006). The total volume was delivered over the length of time of several weeks.
*The 1,350,500 gallons would have generated a fee of $10,758 for disposal.
The city did not collect the fee from EAA. Why, you ask? Because in February of 1986, the Common Council approved a waiver of the sewage discharge fees for future EAA conventions.
Here's the kicker: We learned at last night's budget meeting that the waiver approved in 1986 was not even a council resolution. Rather, then City Manager Bill Freuh included the request for waiver in his City Manager Report. Apparently the council approved the report (and thus the waiver request) unanimously. Ah, you have to love the accountability in the council/manager form of government.
So do other special events in Oshkosh get their crap treated for free? Mr. Patek and Treatment Plant Director Stephen Brand could not think of any, and said that Lifest and Country USA do pay the fee.
The 1986 deal between the City Manager and EAA smells like something, and it ain't teen spirit. (Oh yes, we are covering grunge rock in my music class this week.).
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8 comments:
Some would say that 10 grand collected for crapola is a drop in the bucket... or something less refined. What it shows is how government has become secretive, distant and unaccountable to the residents.
I am from Appleton, not Oshkosh but I have observed can only be described as a disconnect between government and the populace.
Dave.
also relevant -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7ED36iLxpQ
So if EAA generated 1.3 million gallons of bodily waste over two weeks, can one then do the math to determine what the actual "head" count is for EAA? I read that an average person produces 1.5 liters of waste per day. I'm not in the mood to convert liters to gallons and do the math.
Anyone?
What a bunch of crap!
you mean Rich Excrement.
Ron what the hell are you asking - how much shit EAA produces per capita? To see if the attendees are producing at above average levels? Like, what...people stockpile prior to the EAA to leave some kind of biopolitical statement in Oshkosh? ("Grrr, these bastards continue to retain that heinous managerial form of municipal government, we'll just let them know what we think about THAT")
And if capita means "head" you either have the wrong end, or are you subtly calling EAA persons shitheads? If so, do not look for back-up from me.
And if YOU (yeah you, you weasle of a Weasley) produce 1.5 liters of ANYTHING I suggest you start flushing and leave that macho Facebookian "I'm too green to flush, so deal with it" swagger to others.
andgodIhatethispicture, besides that weird line on me eyeball there's a suggestion of a smile-ish pleasantude. Unacceptable. Time to shave my head, pierce an eyebrow and snap a new pic....
anyway, now Tony has to keep track of the quantities flowing OUT of the EAA, not just the numbers of incoming. He'll be busier 'n a one-legged man in a butt kicking contest.
You know Ron I think you're really on to something here. You know how Tony always questions the numbers of people who attend the EAA? Like he suggests the numbers may be inflated? THis is how you can figure out actual attendance numbers, like Ron says. Take that 1.5 liters figure and have a really accurate um, "gauge" of some type hooked up to measure total outflow. You'll be able to calculate the exact number of folks at the EAA. No more fiddling with the figures! Happy Day!
Unless you think Genteel Oshkosh Notables will sneak into the grounds after hours armed with quilted Charmin and flashlights all pumped up on Ex-Lax to perpetrate Porta-Potty Power-Strikes to keep those tallies inflated.
When you think about the money generated for the city by events at the EAA, wouldn't the incoming dollars greatly offset the non-existent fee?
If not, why not revise or retract the resolution?
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