MADERA COUNTY – What would happen if the County were to sell your water district to a private company?
Madera County has been exploring all the options to help improve service and upgrade systems in the County’s special water districts. To assist in developing a plan for the best course of action, the Board of Supervisors appointed a special committee to weigh all the options.The Utilities Privatization Committee (UPC) will hold its next meeting on Thursday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m., to continue hearings on privatizing (outsourcing) some or all of the County’s special sewer and water district services.
Initially the County was entertaining the idea of selling the districts to private operators. But after a Nov. 7 meeting, the first for the UPC, more than 70 residents in attendance made it clear that selling the districts to private companies was not something they would support.
“It did not take long to see that the community was very much against selling our systems to a private company,” said Marc Sobel, who participated in the Nov. 7 meeting.
So while that possibility still exists, focus has turned to exploring how the County can improve services through outsourcing all or portions of the operations.
To educate residents, and assist the County and the community in conducting outreach, a grassroots group of rate-payers has organized in Eastern Madera County. The Community Utilities Council is encouraging local residents to participate in this important process, and educate themselves about what privitization could mean to them.
For more information on the CU-Coalition, call Sarah Rah at 559-877-7272, and check http://privatizingmaderacounty.com for posted documents and updates.
THe UPC meeting will be held Dec. 13, at 2 p.m. at the Madera County Board of Supervisors Chamber – 200 4th Street, Madera
Contact County Engineer Kheng Vang (dial 311) for information or to get on official notification list.
