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At the commission meeting last night, the South Dade Fire Chief asked the commission to check into the deal about Dade County Water and Sewer restricting them from testing the fire hydrants. The report stated of 91 hydrants in the south end, 21 were reported no water flow! This is totally unacceptable.

Shame of the Dade County Water and Sewer Authority, who by the way, got splost money.

Lets see now was those SPLOST bucks they got was for upgrading the lines for better water flow and fire plugs...right??? This is like a lot of STUFF that was in the SPLOST it looks good on paper but in the real world it does not do much. I don't know if the voters will ever learn "Don't vote for a tax until you know exactly what it is going for,how much it will cost and what is the time frame will it be done in". Look Back on all the SPLOST that was passed and see how many projects was done on time and on budget...

I totally agree. All the SPLOST dollars were not specifically earmarked so able to do with it as the commision wishes. Dade Water got money, absolutely, and the commission can't do a thing. Now we let the Chamer get a little $7,000 but we are putting stipulations on it. and the IDA got money with no stipulations, no reports, nah-dah.

Another problem with this last SPLOST is the city got their money on the "projected" income and the Industrial Development Authority got their money bonded on the "projected" income. They were the winners in that deal. This month alone we were down approximately $112,000 of the "projected" SPLOST collectec.

I don't have a problem with SPLOST. In fact, I think it is the better of taxing a person. What I do have a problem with is letting the commission just do with it as they want.

Actually, the wording in the contract was to require the commision approval for the projects. So the commission doesn't have to give the water company a dime. That was done so as to insure that the money was to be used for waterline upgrades and fire hydrants. This was done after the issue was questioned by the fire departments on the expendiitures of the last splost.

The bigger issue is how they are appointed. Right now members of the board are appointed by the Grand Jury. So what happens is that the manager comes into the grand jury and says appoint this one. The manager gets to appoint their own board. Both straw polls in the last election overwellmingly said that the appointments should come from the board of commissioners, thus checks and balances. The commision should be passing an ordinace supporting a change by the State legislature on this manner instead of all the little nanny state laws that are getting passed. Maybe if enough people will bring this to the commisioners attention something will get done. Sounds like the fire department would be motivated to do this.

Actually, the wording in the contract was to require the commision approval for the projects. So the commission doesn't have to give the water company a dime. That was done so as to insure that the money was to be used for waterline upgrades and fire hydrants. This was done after the issue was questioned by the fire departments on the expendiitures of the last splost.


Actually it don't make a crap what the contract says here in Dade County. The Good Ole Boys will take care of each other, I will one day set back and laugh when they fight amoung themselves...


Sounds like the fire department would be motivated to do this.


You would think so, but you know how that is also.........lol..lol...

You know there is a hydrant just down the road from me that was hit by a truck back in October, that is still sitting at an angle and wrapped in police tape. I have wondered if it would work when it is NEEDED, but I don't really know if it is in Dade or Walker the way the lines are around here it is hard to tell.

ALSO does anyone know who I need to contact about a pot hole on my road that is getting larger -- it is on the edge on the inside of a curve and the dirt is being washed out from underneath. I guess more of a 'sink hole' type thing. Folks often have to cross they center line to keep from hitting it, there is about at 2 foot drop on the shoulder there.

ALSO does anyone know who I need to contact about a pot hole on my road that is getting larger -- it is on the edge on the inside of a curve and the dirt is being washed out from underneath. I guess more of a 'sink hole' type thing. Folks often have to cross they center line to keep from hitting it, there is about at 2 foot drop on the shoulder there.

You need yo go through the Chain of Command. Need to call Mr. Ted Rumley and let him be aware and I would also call your Commisioner Mr. Peter Cervelli and let him know. They will in turn call the Roads Dept. for a work order. But right now it is all they can do just keeping up with the fallen trees.

Not sure what the number is for Ted but you can call the Adm. Blding ( Phone: 706-657-4625)
and ask for him, not sure he reads e-mail but I do know that your commissioner does and Peter's number is 423-240-1105 and the email address for them are...

Ted Rumley: trumley@dadega.com

Peter Cervelli: pcervelli@dadega.com

In the last election a question was put on the ballot about the Commission appointing the Water Board. I have heard that is going to be done to hold the Water Authority more accountable to the Commission. Right now the Grand Jury appoints whoever Doug recommends and it's much like the School Board where they just vote to approve whatever Doug wants them to. I still find it funny in the article that Doug goes over and back to cover for the lack of working Fire Hydrants in Dade County but yet the voters approve the Water Company to put in more and they can't maintain the one's they have in now? I personally have NEVER figured out how one person can own a business and the County Taxpayer spend both money and taxes to fund it, but oh well, I guess I'm just a troublemaker again...lol...lol...




Woodyard described his as a longstanding problem between the county’s volunteer fire departments and an unresponsive water board who saw its sole mandate as providing Dade homes potable water. “I’ve spent more time in my 20 years fighting for water supplies than we have fighting fires,” he said.

Woodyard explained by way of background that for about 10 years before 2008, the departments had been forbidden to do routine twice-yearly tests of hydrants because of drought conditions that had gripped the state. But in summer of 2008, he said, South Dade had flushed the hydrants, identified the 21 faulty units, and made a list of them which Woodyard handed to Anderton personally. Anderton, he told the Sentinel Monday, had denied ever receiving the list.

Woodyard said he hoped his plea to the commissioners would do some good but wasn’t holding his breath. “They have no authority over the water authority,” he said. He expressed bitterness that the water authority received SPLOST funds while failing to maintain the hydrants. “To me, they ought to be accountable,” he said.

I have seen North Dade Testing our Fire Plugs here and hopefully they have all worked. Hope this don't make Mr. Cheif mad because I see what's going on...lol...lol...lol....

While making my usual trip to the "South End", I happen to notice that 2 hydrants had been worked on just on Hwy 11. Looks like a trip to the commission worked for the Depts. getting the Fire Hydrants in working order. And for me and what I believe in... That's a good thing...... I just love Accountability.....