Dear Editor,
I read with interest the story about water rates and usage in the last issue. Of particular interest was the request for special treatment by the local funeral home. I would suggest that the consideration of preferential treatment for this or any business in the community with respect to the cost sharing of essential services is a huge mistake. I would hope that the Whitewater Council and staff would reject this request outright and apply whatever actions are necessary for the benefit of the entire community and not one entity. Failure to do so will open the flood gates for other businesses that consider their services important to the public to beg or demand the same consideration to the detriment of the community at large.
As someone who has experienced the reality of declining revenues and mounting costs, I would suggest that if a business model does not have the wherewithal to support itself it should not remain open on the public purse. Municipal government is intended to protect the public interest and not special interests.
Howard Winters
