To the editor:

Well surprise, surprise! Interesting what we read in the local media especially from Councilmember Tim Day, who again attempts to shift blame and demonize others as opposed to taking responsibility for his own myopia. Take this Day quote for example; “This really and truly isn’t about utilities anymore. It is about money.” Oh, “really and truly” Tim? Since you weren’t in the Cape at the time, please spare us your inaccurate and irrelevant account of the UEP history. After almost eight years on council and his many voting contradictions, I seriously doubt that Mr. Day could grasp the purpose for providing a city wide utility system in the largest city between Tampa and Miami.

On June 9, 2008 Mayor Eric Feichthaler, Mayor Pro-tem Tim Day and Council members Pete Brandt and Bill Deile voted to halt the UEP expansion in SW 6 & 7. The no vote was cast in spite of being apprised previously of the consequences. That vote smacked in the face of the intended purpose and the well documented need for a city wide utility system. The consequences of that no vote on June 9, and subsequent votes that added Councilmember Grill to the nay column, is now before city council. Higher utility rates are needed to satisfy the construction bonds. Should that fail, the burden will shift to all property owners by way of higher property taxes, to avoid default of those bonds. So the existing ratepayers get to pay twice since they already paid their share of building the system.

No matter how they slice and dice it, the existing 52,000-plus ratepayer accounts, will be the sole beneficiaries for the “privilege” of paying twice as a result of incompetence and lack of understanding the scope of their actions. Their reckless attitude has failed to provide for the health, safety and environment of this city. Instead of casting votes based on good governance and the “over all good of the city,” we now have obstructionists who are far more interested in “political gamesmanship.”

The utility system expansion began almost two decades ago. It was on schedule to be completed by the end of the next decade. It never was intended to end in mid-stream nor was it planed to end prematurely as evidenced by the system design capacity.

And for those who can’t stand the heat of political office and are incapable of making sound decisions for the overall benefit of our city, allow me to suggest a less stressful vocation. Stamp collecting comes to mind.

Ralph LePera

Cape Coral