Two local officials appear largely supportive of bills sponsored by Sen. Dan Cronin and Rep. Randy Ramey that would put the DuPage Water Commission under the control of the county.
The water commission has come under increased scrutiny since November, when it was revealed administrators had spent down nearly $20 million in financial reserves.
While the Tribune is reporting that some area mayors are denouncing the effort — which they see as a “power grab” by Cronin, the Republican candidate for county board chairman — Mayor Ron Sandack reacted more favorably.
“Although I have yet to read the proposed piece(s) of legislation and fully think through the possibilities, it appears this may be a worthy endeavor,” he said in an e-mail.
“As many know, the DuPage Water Commission has some significant problems so if the county can provide the service within its existing infrastructure why not seek to reduce an extra layer of government and try and find some efficiencies?,” said Sandack, who along with Commissioner Bob Barnett and local attorney Jim Russ Jr. spearheaded the “Downers Grove for Dan” effort for Cronin’s primary campaign.
DuPage Water Commissioner Liz Chaplin of Downers Grove, who early on questioned the agency’s administrative practices also sees some merit to the proposal.
“I agree with the basic idea of the county having control over the DPWC,” she said in an e-mail, noting that she had proposed such an action in 2002 and would like to see the commission become a department of county government “with no middlemen and no municipal representatives.”
However, Chaplin questioned the need for the “Water Operations Committee” proposed by Cronin and also expressed concern about the prospects of the commission’s sales tax ending up on county coffers.
“More government that is not needed,” she said. ” I would like to see the public works of DuPage County take over the commission and report directly to the county board.
“We have exactly what Cronin is suggesting and it has not worked,” Chaplin said. “There are six county-appointed members and the county board has never asked (those) water commissioners for any reports. I took it upon myself to e-mail my concerns to Chairman (Bob) Schillerstrom.”
“I am also concerned with the additional sales tax going to the county. Since the county just received a sales tax increase last year I would like the sales tax that was collected by the DPWC abated if this was to pass,” she said.
I agree with Liz Chaplin here. Eliminate bureaucracy.
I’m sure that Cronin would like to claim more expertise and authority and ignore the details WE all need to take responsibility for.
Get the government OUT of the water business, and let the free market take care of it. Isn’t that the Republican thing to do?
First off the water will never truly be regulated by the free market as long as there is a Democrat in the Mayors office in the city of Chicago. Mayor Daley regulates the price of the water. He may not run the operations and administration here in DuPage, but he charges us what he wants. Until that changes it doesn’t matter who runs the water commission it will never truly be free market. If the county runs it prices may even skyrockets. I would not put it passed Daley/Obama/Rahmbo to raise our water rates and then find a way to blame Republicans for high water rates. Its what these guys do, just look at how they blackmail their own congress people like former NY rep Massie…
Free market that was a good one John! LOL