10/04/2011
School levy, sewer overflow reform win Council support
Resolutions supporting a 5.5 mill school levy and urging Congress to reform the Clean Water Act sewer overflow policy won unanimous approval by Council Monday night. School Superintendent David James spoke about the levy to Council and said that the success of the school system and the success of the city are joined. more...
"The levy will allow us to improve graduation rates and increase the number of high school students who attend college and other post-graduate programs." James said that the levy would costs owners of a median-priced home $7 per month. "It will not solve all of the system's financial problems, and we will continue working to cut costs and put more resources into the classrooms," he said. At-large Councilwoman Linda Omobien, a former school board member, spoke in support of the resolution. "We need a strong school system for the strength of our city," she said.
Resolutions endorsing Congressional reform of the Clean Water Act and opposing Issue 2 also were passed by Council. Mayor Plusquellic said that he is working with the National League of Cities and county government associations, and has met with the U.S. EPA to talk about applying the Clean Water Act as it pertains to combined sewer overflows in an affordable way. "This issue is affecting many cities, and we are trying to raise awareness of the hard times that our residents are having and asking everyone to take another view of the issues - not to ignore the requirements of the Clean Water Act but to apply it in a way that makes it more affordable," Plusquellic said.
The resolution opposing Issue 2 and the enactment of Senate Bill 5 said that its passage would weaken collective bargaining rights for local government employees.
