Mayor Ashley Swearengin wants to clear the air about what she says are
rumors.
But opponents say it's a ploy to get more money.
Fresno the Mayor is holding open houes to let people know about the city's
water system improvement plan.
One was held Wednesday night at the convention center.
Enginners were there to explain that Fresno's water system is aging.
Some pipes are 100 years old.
The city wants to increase water rates to pay for repairs.
But there's a legal battle in the way.
The city and opponents are suing each other.
Opponents want the water hike issue to go to the ballot.
The city says it already has gone to the mail ballot, and the majority of
people didn't protest.
"Ballots went out . If people wanted to object and less than one third of one
percent... 495 people objected to the rate increase," the Mayor said.
"If you want to say that a six page pamphlet and on the bottom of page four
there's a no perferrated section that you could have mailed into the city. If
that's considered a vote than that's fine," says Opponent Steve Wayte.
Water rates are exected to double by 2016. The city approved the hike in
August.
Next Open House
The second open house is set for Friday from 12p to 1:30p at the Silver Doller Hofbrau in Fresno.