COUNCILMAN’S CORNER
City Council recently voted to purchase the AquaIndiana water and sewer utility on the north side of Fort Wayne. This was basically a unanimous vote by members of Council. The basic reason for this vote was to do the best job we can for the citizens of Fort Wayne in providing high quality, low cost services. There is no question based on lots of testimony from citizens who are customers as well as utility experts that AquaIndiana isn’t getting the job done for Fort Wayne’s citizens. Privatization can sometimes result in a higher quality, lower cost service to utility rate payers. In this particular situation, the opposite is true–and has been true for several years. The result of this acquisition by City Utilities will be higher quality water at a lower cost as well as improved sewer service.
AquaIndiana has said that they may have to lay off some of their employees as a result of this process. I’m happy to report that City Utilities has already arranged a job fair for AquaIndiana employees who are being encouraged to apply for several open positions.
Once again the Holiday season is upon us. This is a great time to spend some time with your kids or grandkids enjoying our improving downtown including ice skating at Headwaters’ Park. I’ll look forward to seeing you there!
This is my last column as 4th District City Councilman, a position I’ve held for the last 12 years. Despite redistricting, the Waynedale area has remained in the 4th District during that entire time. I’ve done my best to represent all of the citizens of the Waynedale News area as well as the citizens of Fort Wayne. I’ve focused on supporting our excellent police officers and fire fighters, supporting neighborhoods, improving roads and streets, and economic development including revitalizing our downtown–which is important to economic development. My faith in the good citizens of Fort Wayne–which has always been a fact–has become even stronger as I’ve had the opportunity to work with many fine folks in the Waynedale area as well as throughout the city, county, state, and even the nation. Many thanks to Bob Stark and Cindy Cornwell and the entire crew at the Waynedale News for giving me…and several other elected officials…the opportunity to connect with citizens through columns like this. Everyone at the Waynedale News is performing an important public service in doing so. Keep up the great work!
I’ve let incoming City Council member Mitch Harper know that I’m available to assist in any way I can with the transition of Council representatives. I encourage everyone reading this column to be an activist in your neighborhood association and also to be aware of and involved with public matters at the state and national level. Our founding fathers reminded us that this great country will survive only if every citizen educates himself or herself about the issues and keeps involved.
Thanks again for the opportunity of representing you for the last 12 years!
Tom Hayhurst
City Councilman
4th District
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