I’m concerned about the Regional Water Commission’s proposal to buy the Barkley Lake Water Plant, to improve and expand it to supply water to the city of Cadiz. Both the city and county would keep and maintain their water distribution systems with the regional plant selling water to both.
One reason for creating the regional district is to help secure grants from the state. (Regional districts supposedly are given priority when applying for grants.) Yet by creating three water districts, wouldn’t this put Cadiz and Barkley Lake at risk when vying for grants?
After reading the March 2, 2005, Cadiz Record, it should be understandable why the Barkley Lake water customers are questioning the proposal. The projected cost to expand and improve the Barkley Lake water plant to serve both the city and the county is $12.8 million. The estimated cost to improve the plant to meet the needs of the county only is $4.2 million—a difference of $8.6 million. Perhaps, if the city customers were willing to pay the $8.6 million difference, the county customers would favor the plan. Or perhaps the city could develop a plan to meet their needs that would cost less than $8.6 million.
Lastly, I’m concerned about the position the regional commission takes regarding the KY Public Service Commission. As a consumer, it IS in my best interest to have the KY PSC reviewing rates and acting as a watchguard over the indebtedness of my water district as it presently does with the Barkley Lake District.
I really can’t understand why the Barkley Water Board would be in favor of the regional plan. Nor can I understand why any county magistrate would favor a plan that would cost his constituents $8.6 million more than necessary. I urge you to please contact your county magistrate with your concerns. He will probably be voting on this issue at his next meeting on March 15, 2005.
Linda Jeffries
Cadiz
