Where I Stand: Community Services District is owned by the community
By Josh Huddleston
Indian Valley resident
I finally received a water bill for the Sterling Sage property I owned in downtown Greenville. While many in this community are debating whether property owners of burnt lots should continue to pay $78 a month for the water and sewer connections regardless of whether there’s a structure standing, here’s my two cents regarding the issue of continuing to pay it.
There’s been a lot of talk recently about the bills and why we continue to get them when our businesses or homes are gone. The Indian Valley Community Services District is a COMMUNITY owned entity. It is not some big corporation like PG&E or Frontier Communication. It is community owned and operated.
When one owns a parcel of land within this district you are responsible for paying for the services provided to it by the locally owned entity.
It is imperative that the IVCSD survive and that we all do our part to keep it alive and functioning.
Bankruptcy is a real possibility for this entity. And then what? If the state takes it over, do we think they will be more lenient? Do we think your bill would be less? Could a moratorium be placed on the town restricting building and growth in the future? If outside control occurs, could we as a community ever have control of it again?
Things to think about.
I commend those that are willing to step in and help. Whether it be as a board director or committee member or just as a concerned citizen giving of their time to their community.
I commend the office staff for being the face of this entity and dealing with the daily negative issues that they combat every day.
Yes this water/sewer bill came and it is one of a few that I receive and will continue to pay for as long as I own property within the district.
I understand for those who have lost their homes that it is hard to continue to pay this. Many say they won’t.
But I know many who say they will pay it: ones who have lost their homes and businesses, but who will continue to pay it for the benefit of the town and community in the future.
There has been a bit of scuttle about the bill as well and how it is confusing to understand. I assure you, it is not. It isn’t hard to understand where the amount owed came from.
The district was struggling before the fire to make ends meet. Things don’t need to get worse.
