Speakout

About that BMU rate increase...

I’d like to go before the city council to see if my social security income could increase like BMU. My Medicare supplement just went up to over $300 each month right after my social security check deposited. Nobody asked me if they could. Each week I check on food list to see if each thing on my list is really necessary at this time. BMU should cut some of their expenses to get by like we do each and every day since getting on social security. Live with it. If I’m late paying my BMU bill each month, you get the credit for that if this passes. By the way, when can I expect lunch with you? Thanks.

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It is comforting to know the Sikeston City Council is so concerned with the interest of the Sikeston BMU bond holders. Luckily the poor and suffering middle class will have the opportunity to support the BMU bond holders with a 24 percent increase in their utility bills. Perhaps we will even have a chance to get additional raises to the Sikeston BMU administration. As the poor and suffering middle class scorch in their hot, stifling homes next summer and huddle under heavy blankets and comforters seeking limited warmth during our cold winters, the BMU bond holders will be able to secure excellent profits providing luxury vacations in the Caribbean or perhaps even world cruises. How lucky they are to have the means to purchase these BMU bonds. Unable to purchase the BMU bonds, the poor and suffering middle class will support the BMU bond holders with our literal blood, sweat and tears. I want to thank our mayor and city council for the opportunity to contribute to the wealth of the well-to-do who invest in the BMU bonds. I guess I will go on a diet as food as one of those luxuries I will forgo to make my contribution. Sikeston remember upcoming elections.

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Yes, I am calling about the BMU rate increase presented to the council. I just believe the increase is unnecessary as they have already invoked a 10 percent increase on us this past year. I just think that it is just ridiculous. Some of the people in this community are on a fixed income and I just feel that it’s not necessary. I hope the council says no on this. It is hard to take right now, especially people in a hard financial situation. Also, I know that Kingsway and Murray Lane has gotten upgrade as far as the roads. I do believe it would be nice to see a roundabout at Kingsway and Murray Lane and also a roundabout at Kingsway and Salcedo.

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Stop the rate increases. In regard to the 24 percent rate increase for the Sikeston BMU clientele, I feel the mindset of the Sikeston mayor and city council should not be how the utility rate generates income, but the focus should be on better management of Sikeston BMU resources. The BMU building, which appears to be a monument to the BMU administration, displays a vast lobby and maintains under-utilized office space that could be used as a financial resource by leasing office space instead of a burdensome rate increase in a community where the median income is extremely low, draining the pockets of our citizens so this rate increase can be used to boost profits for those who have the means to secure Sikeston BMU bonds. Many of our citizens will forego necessities in order to contribute to these rate hikes. Of course purchasing power will also be affected, squeezing Sikeston businesses, forcing some to close down. Let your voice be heard. Stop the rate increase.

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Sikeston BMU is so out of touch with the people of Sikeston. Are the mayor and city council members also out of touch? There are so many medium to low-income citizens who will suffer. A 24-percent increase is just cruel. Small businesses who already struggle will be hard hit. In our homes we budget and sacrifice in order to be financially sound. We don’t see BMU doing that. They built a monster building and bought a golf course. Poor decisions will now be piled on our backs. Say no to this increase.