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City scolds water board on county water sales Page 1 of 2 <br /> The Pueblo Chieftain Online <br /> Select file then print to print this article. <br /> Publish Date Tuesday February 5th, 2002 <br /> Mike Occhiato <br /> C ity s...-olds water board on county water sales <br /> By PETER ROPER <br /> The Pueblo Chieftain <br /> Members of the Pueblo Board of Water Works came to City Council hoping to make peace Monday night. Instead, council gave them <br /> a piece of their minds. <br /> Saying they wanted to find a way to settle their lawsuit against the city over a proposed sale to Pueblo West, water board members <br /> put a settlement offer on the table. Council looked at the offer, but then used the 90- minute meeting to drive home a different <br /> message: City water is an asset that should be used to encourage growth in Puebla, not spur development in the county. <br /> That left both sides pretty much where they started - on opposite sides in the water board's lawsuit over council's refusal Nov. 12 to <br /> approve the board's proposed sale of treated water to Pueblo West. <br /> Essentially, the lawsuit claims council must approve the ordinances and contracts brought to it by the water board, which the city <br /> charter established as a largely autonomous board. Council broke in November with a long tradition of cooperation, saying the <br /> charter allows council to determine what board contracts are "reasonable" and whether the pacts benefit city residents. <br /> But council and the water board did agree Monday night to send representatives to further meetings in the hope of working out an <br /> agreement over the next 30 days. <br /> Chairing his first council work session, Councilman Bob Schilling said the meeting was intended to let both sides air their views on <br /> water policy and the pending lawsuit. The tone of the meeting sharpened, however, when Council President Mike Occhiato bluntly <br /> said the water board is "arrogant" in managing the city's water, and challenged the fees they charge city government and residents. <br /> While other council members used milder language, all of the council members told the water board that city water should be sold to <br /> non -city residents at a higher price and for a greater benefit to city residents. <br /> "If there is excess water to be sold (outside the city) a premium price should be paid," new Councilman Randy Thurston told the <br /> board. Water board members took offense at Occhiato's list of criticisms and challenged his complaints. Board President Vera <br /> http://www.chieftain.com/print/tuesday/news/articles/nil.htm 02/05/2002 <br />