To the editor:

Aren’t we all tired of the controversy over the Utilities Expansion Project in Cape Coral? With so much opposition, I think that some people are missing one key point: How does Cape Coral pay for the debt incurred to date for the water facility and planning for this next phase of the expansion?

I challenge those with the “Stop the UEP” rallying cry to come up with a creative way to pay for the facility (and maintenance of it) that was built for their benefit; one which does not put the financial burden on the residents already on City utilities. The city incurred this debt on your behalf. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem!

While I am sympathetic to the plight of those people who are now facing the expense of conversion to city utilities, we are still paying off our part of this project. We have been paying over the past five years and we still owe a balance of $10,500. We are on a fixed income and can’t afford to pay for other Cape Coral residents’ share of the project. How are we supposed to come up with an additional $80 per month on our water bill to pay for the expense of their facility?

To those residents in the Northwest Cape and SW 6 and 7, this project was not done to you, it was done for you! The City Council is not trying to “stick it to you,” but you are trying to “stick it to us”! I think we all need to be realistic and fair. It’s not a good economic time for anyone. Even if the UEP project does not go forward with installation of the pipes, assessments should be placed on those properties to pay for their part of the project to date.

JoAnn Nucifora

Cape Coral