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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Update: Dripping Water Supply board plows ahead with major revamp, possible rate hikes



Video surveillance and a card system are planned for the bulk water fill station to replace the current honor system


Note:
As they say, onward through the briar patch and upward with the water rates. We haven't seen the end of this story. Old timers in Dripping Springs and customers of the DSWSC best get ready for big changes from the big city folks who now populate your board of directors.

Send your comments and news tips to
roundup.editor@gmail.com, to Charles at codell@austin.rr.com, call the DSWSC at 512.858.7897, or click on the "comments" at the bottom of the story

By Charles O'Dell
Contributing Editor

The DSWSC board of directors meeting last night was a triumphant march by the majority directors as they pushed forward their plans to revamp the Corporation following the September 19th firing of long-time General Manager, Doug Cones.

President Ron Kelly also went to great length berating the RoundUp article reporting his board majority firing of Cones.

Kelly tried to correct previous conflicting statements he made regarding the Attorney General Office review of WSC records and Kelly’s request for a Hays County District Attorney investigation of alleged transgressions by Cones. He ardently claimed that he had been misquoted several times in the media and wanted to set the record straight.

In an attempt to give some substance to his earlier innuendos of Cones transgressions, and to demonstrate his investigative skills as a former FBI employee and a retired Temple-Inland Director of Security, Kelly went through a litany of items that he claimed necessitated his going to the Hays County DA.

Holding up various documents, Kelly tried to make his case that Cones was guilty of theft, nepotism, and negligence.

Several observers felt that Kelly’s performance was more theater than substance, and one person later remarked that, “Kelly’s so-called evidence should be laughed out of the DA’s office.”

Acting on a final agenda item, the board agreed to a proposed settlement with WSC member, Bruce Turbow, that included a motion to dismiss the WSC civil suit filed against Turbow for stealing WSC letterhead and issuing a WSC media press release supposedly from the previous WSC board. There are those who believe that one or more members of the Dripping Springs City Council had encouraged Turbow to publish the fake press release.

During the course of the meeting it became clear that the 1,400 WSC members are in for substantial changes, and higher water bills.

Kelly and board member Marge Foster are spearheading installation of an elaborate computerized system that will connect buildings, allow payments with credit cards and streamline record keeping. One member asked if that meant she would no longer be able to pay her water bill with a check.

There will be elaborate security measures taken to ensure that the new system will be protected from “terrorist actions.” Video surveillance and a card system are planned for the bulk water fill station to replace the current honor system. Kelly said he calculated that approximately 66,000 gallons of water had been loaded without payment. At $8.05 per thousand gallons, Kelly figured it cost the WSC more than $500 in lost revenues.

Plans are underway for the $3 million capital reserves accumulated by Cones to be fully deployed by the new board majority. Foster, who is a CPA explained, “It is possible the $3 million reserve might not be enough for the WSC capital needs.”

As the board adjourned, someone in the audience noted that the posted agenda included the footnote, “Please call Doug Cones, General Manager at (512)858-7897 for further information.” Kelly responded that they were using up printed forms to save money.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Charles, could it be that the $3M surplus is there because Mr. Cones didn't spend the money on needed upgrades? Didn't Kelly's report include that there are to be upgrades to the the SCADA system that is the cause of the Meadow Oaks water problems you reported? And to upgrade the standpipes around town? You make it sound like the $3M will be spent on software and other 21st century technologies to bring the WSC into the real world.

I love the fact that you know what innuendo is; you need to read your own reporting to see some of the best innuendo in town. And since Kelly was a career FBI agent, at least he can claim legitimate investigative skills, while yours are questionable at best.

Fleasbeesinsects said...

Just because super special secret agent Kelly worked for the FBI doesn't mean he knows much about running an enterprise, providing excellent service with a reasonable margin, and being a leader- who can get along with people.

And maybe he had legitimate investigative skills, and maybe he didn't. Who cares about his resume and past life at this point?

I'll take Charles O'Dell's investigative skills, and you can believe in special agent Kelly. Charles is a hell of a writer and an even better human being.

The Emancipator said...

Kelly at worst is a developer-owned local power broker who routinely ignores public disclosure and meeting rules mandatory for legal utility management.

That makes him unfit to run a public water utility.

Charles O'Dell said...

“Didn't Kelly's report include that there are to be upgrades to the the SCADA system that is the cause of the Meadow Oaks water problems you reported?”

The two Meadow Oaks problems were reported to be caused by a failed sensor and a lightening strike. I’m not sure what you mean by, “upgrade the standpipes around town,” but scheduled maintenance is always required, and long-term operations of the WSC system has shown that it occurred under Cones. The only standpipe discussed was the one out of service because of the LCRA tank.

PGMS has begun a system survey but there is no, “Kelly report,” and there is no report to show how the $3 million needs to be spent. But you knew that.

I just hate carrying on a dialog with an anonymous person.

Charles O'Dell said...

"And since Kelly was a career FBI agent, at least he can claim legitimate investigative skills, while yours are questionable at best."

You need to view the PBS Frontline documentary about how the FBI had information that could have stopped 9/11 from happening but failed to share or to act on it.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/knew/could/911commission.html

The Man Who Knew. Now we all know.

Anonymous said...

Tell you what Charlie - you admit to your innuendo and ineptness and I will tell you who I am...

Charles O'Dell said...

"Tell you what Charlie - you admit to your innuendo and ineptness and I will tell you who I am..."

I operate on innuendo and am inept.

OK, your turn.

Anonymous said...

Wow! The truth is known if PBS and Chuckles tell us something it must be true.

fleasbeesinsects said...

"A" 11:57 a.m. Why should Dr. O'Dell admit to innuendo and ineptness- when none exists?

And nobody calls him "Charlie", except persons who have been "found out"- and castigated. I don't care who you are, and I don't care if your pal is the super secret special fbi agent.

The pen is mightier than the sword- or any weapon, for that matter.

Anonymous said...

Chuck: Read my lips...the FBI may well have had information that would have prevented the 9/11 terrorist attacks by the vicious Islamic fundamental terrorists; however, due to the "wall" separating the FBI and CIA and other intel organizations - your Democratic Party heroes in the Clinton Administration (thank you very much) - they either couldn't or wouldn't for fear of reprisals. You know, you really suck at this...what else can you do? Have ever considered organic farming?

Anonymous said...

Fleasbeesinsects - what in the hell are you on? Charles, an investigative reporter? In what vein? And how do you know whether or not Kelly can provide excellent service with a reasonable margin? So what, he's p.o.'ed some people who were D.C. fans, other conspirators maybe? Your aruments are pathetic...

Anonymous said...

Charlie, Chuckles, Chuck:
You cheated- you said you "operate on innuendo" and that you are inept. I said you had to say that your writing is full of innuendo and that your writing demonstrates your ineptness. Well, you tried. You get at least partial credit. So I'll give you a hint. I live in Hays County.

Charles O'Dell said...

"I'll give you a hint. I live in Hays County."

I didn't believe for a minute that you would keep your word. I just wanted to prove it to the readers.

The Emancipator said...

Wow, what cowards these Anonymous(es) are showing themselves to be.

Btw, the 9-11 attacks occured during the Bush Republican administration. Trying to slough off the massive intelligence error on the Clinton administration is total ignorance and typical right wing historical revisionism.

Keep up the great work, Charles. We know who the real clowns, er, Anonymouses, are.

Anonymous said...

So "Emancipator" - how much more hypocritical can you be than to rail on "Anonymous" writers. As if your persona is anything more than a sham name. Same as being anonymous. Noting your hypocrisy, you must be a liberal and a Dumb-a-crat.

Btw - the 9/11 events occurred 9 months into Bush's 1st term, meaning all of the Clinton intelligence barricades to cooperation were still in place. And besides, the intel agencies were aware of what was going on before Bush was in office. So the failure to stop it occurred under Clinton's watch.