To reply to his MUD math, how much would it cost the community to buy the infrastructure of the gas company that he would like to take over by eminent domain? If the existing municipal gas service operates at essentially a break even point, it would have to figure out a way to pay for what government is going to take. No IOU's accepted. Money has to come from somewhere, a bond? Then the rate payers have to pay the bond back. That is a cost above the cost of gas.
In Nebraska, the public utility district would have to issue bonds to buy the real-estate and equipment (pipes, substations, whatnot), charging both the principal and interest to the utility users.
And so all the utility users in the Metropolitan Utilities District, which covers all of Omaha and bits-and-pieces of surrounding areas, would have to pay increased rates to cover that.
The big guy admitted as much, but damn it, I can't find his quote (he was quoted here).
Seriously, the big guy is looking for a free ride from somewhere, anywhere.
If not on the disability gravy-train, then the Bellevue City Council.
If not on the Bellevue City Council, then on the lesser-known (and hence more easy for him to get elected) MUD board, where he dreams of sitting in an office all day, as people come in to pay him off, as if Bellevue were Boston or Chicago or Seattle.
The big guy is looking for a free ride, somewhere. Anywhere will do.
And he'll keep looking until he's old and bald.
The big guy would do better if he were just to humbly and diligently go about his work for eight to ten more years, as the 401K and pension plans accrue, assuring him a comfortable retirement.
But no, he wants it now.
www.electstevedawes.com