Water customers should stand in protest, councilman says

The chairman of Walhalla’s utilities committee has issued a call for water customers to fill the city council chambers on Tuesday evening and be heard on whether they believe a $65 dollar re-connection fee is too steep. Councilman David Underwood, fresh from his top-of-the-ticket re-election, wants water customers—those who live inside the city and those who live outside—to turn out in large numbers at 5:30 pm Tuesday as the re-connection fee issue is taken up during the council meeting. During the night Underwood sent these comments to reporters: “We will again talk about the $65 non payment that has been much talked about and already voted down 1 time. Last week we were able to get it back on the agenda to talk about and possibly vote on. This has been one of the main complaints that I have heard since being on the utilities committee. I can tell you now I am only 1 voice on a council of 5 other members and 1 mayor and while I want to change the disconnection fee lower than it is I need your help….” Underwood further pledged he will vote to the lower fee, but he believes his colleagues will not. He says Walhalla has 7,000 customers and would like to see standing room only at City Hall, along with a traffic jam in the vicinity at N. Church and Broad streets.