Common Concerns Over Change
Who controls the Erie Water Works? Who are the Board members? How do we know the system won’t come back under City political control?
The Erie water system is leased to the Erie Water Works until the year 2040. Millcreek Supervisors could lease the Millcreek system to the Erie Water Works for $1.00 per year until the year 2040. The system belongs to Millcreek Water Authority customers. They have paid for all the improvements through their water bills. Remember, insurance companies consider where the closest fire hydrant is when setting your rates.
Mr. Paul Vojtek, CEO of the Erie Water Works, is a Millcreek resident. Other Board members and key employees who are Millcreek residents include:
Richard Dreyfus, M.D.-Board Members
Rick Kerr, MIS Coordinator
Ronald Loader, Manager of Customer Service/Meter Services
Stan Zelepsky, GIS Coordinator
What about projects in Millcreek?
Since the Erie Water Works has assumed management of the water system, over $120 million worth of improvements have been made. An old, decaying city system is now being upgraded to a state-of-the-art system that will provide high-quality, reasonably priced water and enhanced fire protection for many years to come.
Upcoming plans include a $1.8 million project to fortify the Belle Valley service area, creating improved water pressure and fire protection.
“I believe my first year in office as a Millcreek Supervisor was the same year the Erie Water Works came into being. I will never forget how well they cooperated with Millcreek. During my two terms as Supervisor, I was the liaison to the Water Works and every time I called them to help our residents, they responded immediately. Folks in Chester Heights were having severe water problems with some of them doing their wash at laundromats. The Erie Water Works invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to run a new line up Cherry Street Extension to service those homes. They constantly brought much needed public water to areas of Millcreek where we could not previously get water when the system was under City control. We could not have our eastside Streets Facility on Old French Road, which creates faster salting and plowing response for that side of the township, if not for the Erie Water Works. They helped us overcome obstacle after obstacle to bring water to St. Nick’s Picnic Grove, which was part of the deal that enabled Millcreek Township to obtain the land for our Old French Road facility from St. Nicholas Church. My home is among the 10,000 Millcreek residences that receive water directly from the Erie Water Works, and we have lived there for over 20 years. Our service has always been great, the quality of the water is high and the price is very reasonable.”—-Sue Weber
What about the borrowing that has been done by the Erie Water Works?
Since taking over the water system, the Erie Water Works improved the underlying credit rating to an A3 issued by Moody’s Investor Services. This is due to sound business practices that have resulted in three credit score upgrades in the past seven years.
Other Important Cost Concerns
In several areas, Millcreek Water Authority is mixing the water they buy from the Erie Water Works with well water. This has caused homeowners to pay for water softener service and in some cases, bottled water. This well water causes scale on dishwashers, bathtubs, etc. and in certain cases, has caused homeowners the expense of replacing their hot water tank much sooner than would normally be the case, due to the minerals in the well water.
Records show that the Millcreek Water Authority has spent hundred of thousands of dollars over the years trying to solve problems associated with the Yoder and McDowell Wells. They have passed these costs on to their customers and have charged them the same rates for the well water that they charge for the higher quality water purchased from Erie Water Works.
The Millcreek Water Authority has spent hundred of thousands of dollars over the years trying to solve problems associated with the Yoder and McDowell Wells.