March 21st, 2020 by WCBC Radio
The petition protesting a proposed 56.75% water rate increase in Piedmont has been found to be valid and the Public Service Commission will proceed with a hearing on whether or not the increase is needed. The petition protesting the rate hike, which the Piedmont City Council passed on Jan. 14, was filed with the PSC on Feb. 7 and was signed by 99 persons. The Town of Piedmont then filed a motion to dismiss the petition, saying it did not meet the necessary criteria as set by the PSC. Administrative Law Judge Keith George of the PSC presided over the hearing in the Piedmont Legion to determine the validity of the petition, which the Town of Piedmont said included too many invalid signatures.
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March 21, 2020 at 11:43 am, Bob said:
Has Brian Grim moved to Piedmont?
March 21, 2020 at 1:49 pm, Ken said:
Hey Bob, what the “government” did to us in Bel Air was to turn the water department over to Utilities Inc. We now enjoy some of the highest water and sewer bills in the country.
Why this might be relevant to you is that Cumberland is now thinking of pulling the same move.
This gives government a way of saying to the voters that they didn’t raise rates.
Here’s the bottom line. Piedmont is in trouble. They need a new water supply and they don’t have a large enough tax base to pay for it. I’m sure if you had a suggestion, they’d be glad to listen.
March 21, 2020 at 10:13 pm, Jay said:
Piedmont, and the Tri-Tpwns in general, is in a very bad situation. I would guess that Piedmont’s days as an incorporated municipality are coming to an end. The closing of the mill is likely the final nail in the coffin. It’s very sad. When I was growing up, Piedmont had about 2500 residents. I’m sure it’s under 1000 now. Virtually all of the neighborhoods and residential streets are run down and unrecognizable in some cases. Property values are approaching zero. An even sadder part is that Cumberland may not be that far behind.