To the Editor:
There are currently seven trustees on the Atwood Regional Water and Sewer Board. At the May 17 meeting, there were four trustees present. By a vote of three yes votes and one no vote, the board voted to renew the medical benefits package at a 9.87 percent increase. The package includes major medical, dental and vision coverage at 100 percent with no co-pay or deductible. By the same 3-1 vote, a three percent across the board pay raise was given to all employees. The board also pays the entire 24 percent Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) contribution for each employee.
The only source of revenue for the district is user fees. The last $2 sewer rate increase, bringing the monthly charge to $40, was to pay the loan for the upgrades to the aging pump stations. The district is carrying a $2.5 million debt. Projections include approximately $200,000 in equipment, including a new backhoe, plant generator and a used jet truck chassis. With current economic conditions and unemployment rates in Carroll and Tuscarawas counties, the board recently applied for loans to install a $21 million water system.
They must have found the tree on which money grows. Every user of the Atwood Regional Water and Sewer District should be at the next meeting, to be held the third Monday of June at 7 p.m. in the Warren Twp. Community Center in New Cumberland, to find out where that tree is.

Donna Hall
Dellroy, OH

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