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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 27, 2017
<br />rent payment. Medical bills, doctor's bills. Last year there was the trash increase. Plus, if you
<br />wanted your yard waste picked up, you're now in a mandatory yard waste pay -in. We've got
<br />that, then you have the sewer before that —and we know the sewers are just going to keep going
<br />up because you're under a federal mandate that keeps getting pushed back onto a backburner, but
<br />it's there. Now, you come here for this. Five (5) years ago, this needed to be done. Three (3)
<br />years ago, the Mayor came to you and said, "The City's doing great. Give me $25,000,000 for
<br />Smart Streets." Gee: $25,000,000 for Smart Streets, or $23,000,000 to fix the water? Ms. Banicki
<br />stated that in all the discussion about the infrastructure, nothing has been said about lead content
<br />in the water. She stated, Forty percent (40 %) poverty rating in the City: $1 is too much to ask
<br />until you can prove to them that you're really diligent with their money, and you have not been
<br />good stewards with their money.
<br />Jerry Niezgodski, 1113 Elliott Street, South Bend, IN, stated that he does not know if he is
<br />against the bill as much as he wants to see it tabled. He stated that he recognizes that there is a
<br />need, and that rates would inevitably have to be raised at some point. He stated that he would
<br />like to see the Council, the Redevelopment Commission, and the Mayor discuss further the use
<br />of TIF money. He asked, If one of these stations or one of these areas serves water to a TIF
<br />district would it not qualify for TIF money? He asked if money from a TIF district like Eddy
<br />Street Commons can be used to repair a pumping station that is outside of the TIF district but
<br />serves the TIF district. He asked, I'm the first person to say let's repair this as soon as we can,
<br />but do we need to raise the rates now at the rate we want to? Have we exhausted all of our
<br />alternatives — including the TIF— before we do that? Anything you guys can do to help the rate-
<br />payers would be greatly appreciated.
<br />Mr. Horvath returned to the podium for a rebuttal. He stated that he wanted to assure the public
<br />that South Bend has good water quality. He explained that water only comes in contact with lead
<br />when it reaches pipes, which may be made of lead, in certain homes. He stated, The way our
<br />water is, it's slightly scalable. We look at three (3) different indexes that we track on water. We
<br />are essentially trying to make sure that it will continue to coat the pipes slightly so that you don't
<br />get as much leeching of lead and copper in your system. So, we're very fortunate for having that
<br />water quality. Mr. Horvath added that South Bend's water meets the EPA's lead and copper
<br />standards, going on to say that there is a lead problem with paint in the home, but that HIPPA
<br />laws make it difficult to find out what children have been affected by lead poisoning. He stated,
<br />We have offered that we will test water in homes where people have children that have been
<br />poisoned by lead, just to give an insurance that it is not the water. We've done some of that and
<br />haven't had any that involves that action level. He explained that a pamphlet is being packaged
<br />with the next water bill for South Bend residents that explains the problem and how to mitigate
<br />it.
<br />Councilmember Karen White stated that in looking at the water infrastructure problem, her
<br />concern was not to increase rates all at one time; to be mindful of the financial issues that
<br />residents have. She stated, Likewise, I have no difficulties looking at TIF. Anything that we can
<br />do to minimize our rate increase on our citizens I think is work well done. She stated that she had
<br />no issues with continuing the conversation, but only until April 10`h 2017.
<br />Councilmember Tim Scott stated that he has seen what failed water and sewer systems look like,
<br />that South Bend's water infrastructure has gone too long without appropriate maintenance, and
<br />that he did not want to see those failures he has seen in other cities happen to South Bend.
<br />Councilmember Scott stated that the sins of the past must be paid for now so that the future does
<br />not have to bear that burden. He stated that he was ready to vote as soon as possible.
<br />Councilmember John Voorde stated that the matter needs to be voted on this evening.
<br />Councilmember Voorde agreed with Mr. Niezgodski who stated that the ordinance is not asking
<br />for enough money. He stated, A lot of these capital needs are long overdue and need to be
<br />addressed —not in one fell swoop. But we certainly want to compliment the Administration for
<br />their willingness to come up with a modified rate increase, which is before us tonight. When the
<br />time comes that we can accept the recommendation, that's what I will recommend.
<br />Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that he appreciates Mr. Horvath's closing statement, because
<br />the images shown in his presentation suggested that the water quality in South Bend is not good.
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