That was the result of the decision of five of the six council members who chose not to follow CIMA's interlocal agreement that calls for a transfer of these assets to CIMA.
At a special called meeting Wednesday, where the agenda called for the transfer, discussion was brief among CIMA board members and the Russellville Council.
The meeting began with CIMA Chairman Michael Clark saying, "This is a good day in the life of CIMA. But truly, it is only a completion of something that started months ago."
A good day for CIMA turned into a surprising one when Councilman Russell Jones' motion to transfer the funds that died from a lack of second.
"What now?" was a question among CIMA board members, with Clark stating after the adjournment, "I don't know what this will mean."
Clark further stated, "On the surface, it looks as if the council is not willing to complete the process of the interlocal agreement (which they signed). I don't know; maybe they need extra time. I hope, however, that this is not a condemnation of the idea of CIMA."
According to Clark, Auburn-- a joint representative in the regionalized authority-- already turned over its assets, waiting for Russellville to do the same.
Auburn Mayor Dewey Roche-- who also serves on the CIMA board-- says he was disappointed in the council's decision, or lack thereof. "I think everybody was in agreement, and I think the questions that were asked got answered, so I don't really know what happened."
Roche said he thought there might be an underlying issue, but if they don't sit down and learn to talk about it, there will be no future.
Russellville Mayor Shirlee Yassney stated that even though she felt the council to be acting responsibly by considering all properties, equipment, etc., they ultimately understood that the interlocal agreement had been signed and that the CIMA board members took control in July 2001 of assets and liabilities.
"The resolution on Wednesday," said Yassney, "was just to make a formal transfer of the assets and liabilities and nothing more. The city council still appoints the CIMA board, and they still attend CIMA meetings and have say over the control."
Yassney pointed out in a statement released to the N-D&L that the rate payers of Russellville are the people who own the assets and owe the debts. "In that respect," she said, "water and sewer is just changing management and nothing more."
Council members also spoke to the N-D&L after the meeting adjourned, giving reasoning on their silence.
"They still haven't provided enough answers for me," said Councilman Ken Smith, who said he has never been for CIMA or voted agreeing to anything concerning the organization. "Some questions I want to know the answers to, especially concerning its budget."
Councilman Morris Kisselbaugh says he is for CIMA, but feels a lot of things need to be changed. "They have some changes to make before I will agree to go further. I have discussed them in the past, but they have never been totally acknowledged."
Councilman Ken Barrett-- who took over the council seat of the late Gerald Chapman-- says he came in on this issue late in the game and doesn't feel he knows enough at this point to render a decision either way. "I would like to hear more about it," said Barrett. "If I am going to vote on something, I need to know what I am voting about."
Councilman Howard Wren agrees with Barrett's statement. "I don't think we can legally give away our assets," said Wren, "especially when we don't know anything about it."
"I wasn't ready," voiced Councilwoman Jean Hankins. "I want to look at what assets they want to transfer first before letting them go."
Councilman Jones felt, however, that his fellow council members had been informed all along the way. He didn't understand why they would now back down when they were just completing the formality of what they had already agreed to do.
"CIMA has been operating with these assets since July 2001, so it's just simply fishing up formalities," said Jones.
"We have been trusting them this far unofficially with expenditures and these assets, so why not finish the process? We have been invited to all the CIMA meetings and if there were questions, we should have been asking them. I think it's been our responsibility to keep ourselves informed."
"CIMA is operating with the revenue; shouldn't they have it all? Our liabilities as well as the assets go along with it. The council should remember that," Jones continued.
"The assets do not belong to the city of Russellville. They belong to rate payers. We have just been managing it. We are not giving anything away. We are just changing management. We will still have a say."
Jones says he hopes to get this resolved and that he feels the council is sending out bad messages to CIMA, Auburn, the state and the rate payers.
"We are telling CIMA that we do not trust them. We are telling Auburn that we are not willing to help them. We are telling the state, 'no thanks' to free money and we are telling the rate payers (Russellville) we are not going to look to the best possible way to keep rates low.
"I hope each council person gets their questions answered, so we can get on with the business at hand."
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