Editor,
I wish to respond to the Feb. 10 guest commentary by Mr. Brett Garlick, “Critic’s accusations are unfounded.” It was disappointing that council member, Garlick had a need to get personal with Mr. Orwin Draney regarding use of monies from the sale of property paid for from the power fund.
Last November, Kaysville residential power rates were increased by 9.65 percent so it would be nice to know what the city intends to do with the proceeds from the sale. Rumor or not, people think the city intends to use that money to build a police station, doing an end-run around the failed bond election of November 2010.
If, as Mr. Garlick states, “the funds from the sale of the property will go directly back to the electric department” then those funds should be used for electric department purposes which could include a rate decrease and not be used for non-power fund purposes.
When we get out of this recession, that is the time to consider big expenses and let the people decide by a vote. As a former city council member, I have stated publicly it is wrong to raise our rates to pay for non-power fund needs. That is what taxes are for. The original intent for Kaysville to have its own power company was to keep rates low and pay for power infra-structure, not be used to raise monies. It is the same as a hidden tax!
H. Lynn Galbraith
Kaysville
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