Mayor Henry Seeks Control of Southwest Fort Wayne Water
By: Andrew Logsdon
Updated: November 15, 2012
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry says Aqua Indiana has come up short for southwest customers-
And today took steps for the city to take control the area's water service.
Henry announced the city's "condemnation" of Aqua Indiana.
After complaints of low water pressure and poor quality, the city stepped in this summer.
Now, Mayor Henry wants to make it permanent.
"Today I am announcing that the city of Fort Wayne is moving forward to condemn Aqua Indiana's water utility in southwest Fort Wayne," Henry says.
Henry says they've been patient long enough, and the city plans to take control of water for Aboite-area residents.
This summer the city supplied water to 1300 households, while Aqua Indiana dealt with problems providing water at full pressure to all its customers.
"I do not believe that Aqua has a suitable plan to meet the current and long-term needs of the customers in southwest Fort Wayne," Henry says.
Citing independent consultant reports, Henry says they can do the job better, and cheaper, than Aqua.
He says customers could save as much as $225 a year switching to city water.
Henry says they have tried to work out an agreement outside of court.
Now it becomes a legal issue, which could lead to the city buying the Aboite operations.
City utilities officials say twenty homeowners groups signed a petition asking for a city acquisition.
They say Aqua's water is too expensive and is poor quality.
"For a lot of us, there are a lot of older couples and single people. We pay a fortune. They have minimum charges," says Ann Holsinger of the Aboite Meadows Homeowners Association.
"The first thing that gets you is the smell and the odor- the taste, and then your faucets and sinks are going to be corroded," says Hank Mazolla of the Falls of Beaver Creek Homeowners Association.
Matt Niezer has lived in Aboite for eight years.
He says he welcomes the taste of city water.
"I never really did, living outside the city limits, I never really did like the taste of the water out here. You do eventually get used to it. But I know growing up in the city limits of Fort Wayne, O did like the flavor of Fort Wayne water," Niezer says.
Aqua Indiana President Tom Bruns disputed the city's claims today.
The Journal Gazette reports Bruns says the negotiations had been proceeding well, and that today's announcement is a surprise.
At today's press conference, Henry says the same thing happened in northwest Fort Wayne five years ago.
And since the city took over up there, customers average about $500 in savings each year.
And today took steps for the city to take control the area's water service.
Henry announced the city's "condemnation" of Aqua Indiana.
After complaints of low water pressure and poor quality, the city stepped in this summer.
Now, Mayor Henry wants to make it permanent.
"Today I am announcing that the city of Fort Wayne is moving forward to condemn Aqua Indiana's water utility in southwest Fort Wayne," Henry says.
Henry says they've been patient long enough, and the city plans to take control of water for Aboite-area residents.
This summer the city supplied water to 1300 households, while Aqua Indiana dealt with problems providing water at full pressure to all its customers.
"I do not believe that Aqua has a suitable plan to meet the current and long-term needs of the customers in southwest Fort Wayne," Henry says.
Citing independent consultant reports, Henry says they can do the job better, and cheaper, than Aqua.
He says customers could save as much as $225 a year switching to city water.
Henry says they have tried to work out an agreement outside of court.
Now it becomes a legal issue, which could lead to the city buying the Aboite operations.
City utilities officials say twenty homeowners groups signed a petition asking for a city acquisition.
They say Aqua's water is too expensive and is poor quality.
"For a lot of us, there are a lot of older couples and single people. We pay a fortune. They have minimum charges," says Ann Holsinger of the Aboite Meadows Homeowners Association.
"The first thing that gets you is the smell and the odor- the taste, and then your faucets and sinks are going to be corroded," says Hank Mazolla of the Falls of Beaver Creek Homeowners Association.
Matt Niezer has lived in Aboite for eight years.
He says he welcomes the taste of city water.
"I never really did, living outside the city limits, I never really did like the taste of the water out here. You do eventually get used to it. But I know growing up in the city limits of Fort Wayne, O did like the flavor of Fort Wayne water," Niezer says.
Aqua Indiana President Tom Bruns disputed the city's claims today.
The Journal Gazette reports Bruns says the negotiations had been proceeding well, and that today's announcement is a surprise.
At today's press conference, Henry says the same thing happened in northwest Fort Wayne five years ago.
And since the city took over up there, customers average about $500 in savings each year.
