You're not seeing this the right way. Considering the previous success PWB has had with computers, Randy is not quite inept enough to realize he needs to stick us with $145M for the meters.

"The bureau is also proposing a 13.9 percent rate increase next year, taking the water portion of the average quarterly combined water and sewer bill to $83.55"

On top of the 50% over the past couple of years - You'd think the guy would smile more enjoying his own sadistic treatment of the rate-payers. PWB is getting Randy's personality stamp.

Randy sees he is finished as a politician and is in the damage control mode. Too little too late Randy. You had your time to take a common sense approach and you lost it, trying to destroy our Bull
Run system and open reservoirs in the process. Maybe you can get a job pitching $8 bioidiesel, or share a route with con man David Wilson.

"Randy sees he is finished as a politician"

Just like Sam, he'll get re-elected unless we can find a qualified candidate or he doesn't want the job. This is Portland, we aren't that smart.

The SamRand Twins know that they are finished inasmuch the twins have let their gubernatorial dreams die.

Randy can hop into his pension-fueled limo and drive off to Shady Acres to spend his days yelling at kids and lighting cigars with $100 bills.

On the other hand, even Libyan levels of unrest won't send Sam into retirement.

Meter readers vote. Smart meters don't.

It's an interesting set-up, but anyone who buys it deserves to live in a place run by Fireman Randy.

Don't think anyone is buying what Randy says anymore. What he says and does is simply not plausible even to the O as they were on his case recently.

What I find troubling is that he doesn't care. This makes me wonder what he sold us out for on our Bull Run Water System and reservoirs.

When the O reported that NY got a reprieve until 2028 and were asking for another until 2034 and Leonard insisted we had a deadline of 2014 and we had to hurry spend spend spend, I think his gig was up.

In July 2009 organizations and citizens pleaded with council to ask for a delay, but to no avail with that group who sit on their royal perches and do not listen.

What else has he "set up" that wasn't with integrity? As far as this legal case he brings up, it was reported to me that back east, some were upset, because our pwb were not cooperative in providing documents.

The watchdog citizens get nothing out of this except angst knowing what will happen with the rates and our good drinking water. They continue on trying to get the truth out to the people despite the heavy hand the city has had in all of this.

What do Leonard and Shaff get out of this?

Leonard thought he could skate through this without a blemish, well now, he knows some truth did get out and he wants to make himself look good. Too late, when all he had to do in the first place is begin the proceedings and do a sincere ask for a Federal Waiver.

He won't. He is arrogant and still on a rampage to destroy those reservoirs. The community must insist that all these unnecessary expensive projects be stopped right now. We must ask for a reprieve at least until we can get someone with integrity as our Water Commissioner. That person will ask for what we need and deserve, a Waiver.

Well said Clinamen. Anyone up for the challenge?

I don't get it. Why spend any amount of money on - or time debating - this? Who is going to be assuaged by smaller monthly bills if they still add up to that whopping quarterly amount?

For his part, Leonard said he wants to see a low-tech system that would help residents budget better.

Wouldn't keeping water rates more stable and reasonable help residents budget better?

And he said ditching a quarterly bill for monthly would help put water rates in perspective compared with power, gas and cable.

Because people are so ignorant, they can't divide by 3?

Non-story is right, Jack.

And how many more people will the water bureau have to employ to send out a monthly billing?
I call...."Bull S#%*t,"

"And he said ditching a quarterly bill for monthly would help put water rates in perspective compared with power, gas and cable."

My monthly water bill would often be larger than my power and gas bills,is that the perspective he wants me to have?

Your take is exactly right Jack. We're supposed to believe that this water bureau employee would be running around talking about a new $45 million system if Randy wasn't the one who thought of it in the first place? Riiiight.

I'm also taking the Randy vs. Amanda scenario under advisement. That too might be staged.

You're right Jack. Amanda is as phony as Leonard.

Just for some perspective folks - I just got my quarterly sewer bill here in Nevada. It's $84.81 or $28.27 a month. Combine that with our monthly water bill that has never been over $25.00 a month; and we're paying under $55.00 a month for both water and sewer...

Dave A.- Who cares about your comparison? Certainly not apples to apples to Portland's system. Overcharging and poor management should not be tolerated by any citizen. Sounds like you are being hosed and do not know it.

We are all being hosed!
The question is what can we do about it NOW?

You're right Jack. Amanda is as phony as Leonard.

This whole water episode is phony, not only Amanda, but all on Council know it and have gone along with Leonard...the phony perch sitters!

Dave G.: I don't think we are being hosed in any way. Our water and sewer bills are about half of what we paid those thieves in Portland. And I do think the comparisons are valid. In fact, we not only live in a much larger home with an extra bathroom, but also have a pool in use from late April until early October.

We are all being hosed!

Fireman Randy doesn't know the difference between hosing people and hosing fires.

I have two ways of dealing with this whole debacle. And both of them can proclaim "it's for the environment!"

1. Go with "smart meters" to eliminate the need for meter readers to drive around the city in gas-guzzling cars. A RF network would allow daily consumption readings and let the city target high water users.

2. Replace the meter readers' vehicles with bikes. There's no reason that a meter reader needs a car in this city. Saves on gas and the environment, plus shows that the City of Bicycles really stands up to its committment of being the most bicycle friendly city when city employees are using bikes to do their jobs.

80% increase in our water rates in the next five years.

If we had "smart" readers, they would probably start pointing their fingers at Randy as to why.

...but anyone who buys it deserves to live in a place run by Fireman Randy.

Children have a choice of living in a place run by Fireman Randy?

Children have a choice of living in a place run by Fireman Randy?

No they don't and that is why the adults of this community need to see that:

1. The debt of the PWB is not run out of control so that in the end, the children will not have lost their water rights to an international water company

2. The drinking water is secure from added toxic chemicals and carcinogenic properties! Radon needs the open reservoirs to vent safely into the atmosphere.
http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/667/documents/pdfsubscribe/EXAM%20PROOF%200329-2.pdf
On page 4 of the April 2011 SE Examiner, you will find valuable information on the open reservoir public health benefits and the public health problems with covered storage tanks.

It is our water. Money spent should be spent on the deferred maintenance of our sustainable water system. We should not have rates increased over 80% in five years spending on unnecessary projects that send our money to consultants and corporations.

International water corporations have eyes on our country's water. Nestle is trying on negotiations now to get water from our Gorge area.

Do you think Leonard and Adams are smart enough to deal with them should these corporations try to push their way in here? Can we depend on Council to save our good Bull Run Water System and Reservoirs?

So far, it doesn't look like we can rely on any of them which is why when:

Randy, Water Commissioner who hasn't acted responsibly
Amanda, the nurse who doesn't seem to get it
Sam, the Mayor who preaches sustainability but won't stand up for our water system
Saltzman, who claims he is "for the children"
Fish, who goes along with Leonard

3. We must put pressure on Council to care and act in our best interests, to keep our sustainable Bull Run Water system intact with the reservoirs that provide us with healthy drinking water.

Eric H, I first liked your idea of Bike Meter Readers (BMR). But then I got to thinking (a mistake in Portland). Like Portland's garbage franchises, City Council would instigate additional fees (taxes) for areas of the city having hills. That's would be about 5/8ths of us. Same thinking with the Leaf Tax. Bad idea.

Eric H, I first liked your idea of Bike Meter Readers (BMR). But then I got to thinking (a mistake in Portland). Like Portland's garbage franchises, City Council would instigate additional fees (taxes) for areas of the city having hills. That would be about 5/8ths of us. Same thinking with the Leaf Tax. Bad idea.

I am afraid that Bike Meter Readers would result in a special fees for those who live in hilly areas (they already nail some of us on our trash bills) though I am sure some areas would be excluded based on which pols live there.