Ashland residents shocked by water, sewer rate hikes

Ashland is heading in a downward spiral out of control. Ashland has not promoted good economic commerce and growth through development of residential tax base over the last two decades and is quickly becoming one of Nebraskas highest cost small towns to live in. Ashland is primarily a bedroom town with High taxes, overstated commercial real estate values and now one of the most expensive sewer and water utility bills in the state, with immediate rate HIKES of up to 60% for residential base rates plus additional useage rates costing residents an estimated $100 plus per month. The high commercial & Industrial rates will not promote commerce, especialy with the current economy. When business and residents relocate guess what happens. Ashland is only 20 min. from Omaha with respective utility rates and a far better infrastructure and services. Omaha also provides better demographics for sucessful business oportunity. These excessive costs will criple Ashlands future turning it into the town it was in the 70's with more vacant buildings than occupied ones. I for one will be placing my home on the market and moving on. Maybe the Platte River dam was not such a bad idea afterall.

This town ain't that hot -- the direction that they mayor and the council has taken is definitely the wrong way. Their inability to seek government grants and other cost mitigation are outright negligence or stupidity -- can't figure out which. Residents in the main part of town pay for the new water tower -- the principal beneficiarie, the new development, doesn't because they put in the tower before finding out how they could pay for it, and discovering that the beneficiaries have a contract to not pay any water increases.

It's ridiculous.

I understand the concern about the recent sewer and water rates increases...but when I flush I want my poop to be taken care of...not sure what you wanted the leadership of Ashland to do about their aging infrastructures.

i think we need a new mayor she does not do what she is suppose to I HOPE SHE GETS RECALLED

I had a little 2 bed appt without an outside faucet, cost nearly $100 a month. I cant imagine watering a yard?

You have a bank teller with no degree in city government operating as the City Administrator-You have a newspaper flunkie who had a hard time getting a classified ad placed correctly as the Clerk Treasurer. What do you expect?

Hey now, those city flunkies and the former mayor pay all their bartabs. And they keep the town bookie busy!

Happy Bar Owner wrote:

Hey now, those city flunkies and the former mayor pay all their bartabs. And they keep the town bookie busy!

You all seem to be very intelligent. Maybe you should run the City of Ashland. The pay is so grand and it sure is worth all the comments. It is very easy to sit back and point the finger and talk bad about others. Real nice. Does anyone consider that their children could read this? Does anyone care? What a shame that this is what technology has accomplished. I have my own opinions and thoughts on the subject but this is not the place for me to voice anything that could possibly be false or hurtful.

If you are all so upset about it why don't you run for office? I mean really folks, it's ridiculous that all people do is bitch and bitch some more. Why don't you do something about it. It's not like the people that YOU elected to these positions don't care about Ashland, they are doing what they think is in the best interest. You are probably the same people who didn't care about water prices until they went up and then you decided to complain. Be informed citizens.
Now, as for the comment about the city administrator, are you better qualified? I doubt it. And for the Clerk, let me get this right, she is now completely incompetent because she couldn't place an ad correctly? That's ridiculous. The mayor comment is also ridiculous.

Obviously (Resident) you are confused, as you know nothing of what you speak. The City Administrator and Clerk Treasurer are not elected officials. They are supposed to be hired by recommendation of the City Council on there experience, skills and professional background. I would think that the City Council would want to find the most competent of individuals to hold these positions ("and yes, if you can't do a capable job, working at a small town newspaper then you are more than likely going to be "really" challenged as a Clerk Treasurer")-THAT ONLY MAKES SENSE! Our Mayor at this time was not elected-he was acting as City Council President and was placed in the position of Mayor when the past mayor resigned. The city is only as "backwards" the people who are running it. I think that "some"..(not all) of the City Council is more interested in the "gossip" and thinking about the cold beer waiting at the bar when the meeting is over, than anything else! I know what I am talking about! This is a town of 2,600 people with 5 drinking establishments, and they sure are not going broke! Ashland is in a beautiful location right between two huge metropolitan cities so you get the country but still it is close enough to commute to work to Lincoln or Omaha-"there are no good paying jobs in the City of Ashland." My observation of Ashland is it is like the "town that time forgot"! But not in a good way! SOOO Backwards! As soon as the economy turns around I will be trying to "unload" my home and move back to civilization. You "idle minded" country folk can keep Ashland!

Clay Anderson. Absolutely the exception and not the rule. Ashland is certainly not a "pipeline" for Rocket Scientists! It might have been where he was born but not where he stayed!

comment to the uneducated opinions---maybe if you knew the experience, skills and back ground you would shut up! In this fine country we live in people have all the answers and opinions and most of them are very uneducated! By the way, the current mayor was elected by the people, as a council member but he was elected and when electing these officials - anything can happen! If you are so smart....step up to the plate. Hope to see the sign in the yard soon. As far the Clay comment, I think you'd be surprised at who is all from Ashland and the ties that bind, again a uneducated opinion.

"I rest my case".

There is no case when it is opinions that are not based on facts or all the facts.

comment-to resident wrote:

Obviously (Resident) you are confused, as you know nothing of what you speak. The City Administrator and Clerk Treasurer are not elected officials. They are supposed to be hired by recommendation of the City Council on there experience, skills and professional background. I would think that the City Council would want to find the most competent of individuals to hold these positions ("and yes, if you can't do a capable job, working at a small town newspaper then you are more than likely going to be "really" challenged as a Clerk Treasurer")-THAT ONLY MAKES SENSE! Our Mayor at this time was not elected-he was acting as City Council President and was placed in the position of Mayor when the past mayor resigned. The city is only as "backwards" the people who are running it. I think that "some"..(not all) of the City Council is more interested in the "gossip" and thinking about the cold beer waiting at the bar when the meeting is over, than anything else! I know what I am talking about! This is a town of 2,600 people with 5 drinking establishments, and they sure are not going broke! Ashland is in a beautiful location right between two huge metropolitan cities so you get the country but still it is close enough to commute to work to Lincoln or Omaha-"there are no good paying jobs in the City of Ashland." My observation of Ashland is it is like the "town that time forgot"! But not in a good way! SOOO Backwards! As soon as the economy turns around I will be trying to "unload" my home and move back to civilization. You "idle minded" country folk can keep Ashland!

Where in my post did it make me seem that I knew nothing of how those particular city officials are put into place? You are a fool. As for the newspaper argument it is absolutely ridiculous. 1) You apparently are a good and never make mistakes. 2) If she was SO incapable of placing ads in the newspaper why did they keep her around? hm...3) you have no idea what you are talking about.