The ongoing question about whether Lawrence’s sewer system, particularly in the northwest part of the city, is capable of handling current demands – not to mention future needs – raises many interesting and disturbing issues.

The No. 1 question is who is supplying Black and Veatch officials the population projections used to determine whether the present system, designed to handle city needs until at least 2010, is, indeed, able to take care of today’s needs.

Are city estimates wrong? Have Black and Veatch officials erred in their calculations? Are city figures accurate? Why have projected population or user figures supplied by the city for certain areas declined while the areas in question have been enlarged to encompass an even greater geographic area? And why has a proposed location for a pump station been removed from city planning maps?

Could some individuals be using this mess to delay or impede development in various areas? For example, the reported overflow at a sewer pumping station at Sixth and Kentucky streets prompted city officials to place a moratorium on growth in some areas. City officials have said flow-meter testing must be done to determine the true capacity of existing sewers, but this cannot be done until the city has another major rainfall similar to the one that caused the overflow several weeks ago. How long will it be before the city has another 6-inch rain, and does this mean the freeze on building permits will stay in effect until such a rainfall occurs? Was the overflow due to the massive rainfall, runoff, more sewage, a mechanical failure or what?

It should be noted that Black and Veatch officials are quick to state in their reports on city sewer and water plant issues that their recommendations are based on figures and information supplied by city officials. Black and Veatch representatives make it very clear their assumptions are based on the figures Lawrence officials have fed them, and they hold their company free from any blame for mistakes that can be traced to faulty initial information.

It is understandable that the recent city action brought smiles to the faces of several city commissioners who favor slowing down, if not stopping, city growth. Some in this fraternity may dispute they are in the “no-growth” movement, but they certainly favor techniques that can bring growth to its knees.

Consider what this could mean in terms of employment, lost wages and lost tax receipts for the city and school district. Thousands of current Lawrence workers – carpenters, electricians, plumbers, concrete and masonry workers, painters, those in the home-furnishing business and many others – will be out of jobs. This is a serious matter that deserves the public’s attention and a demand for answers.

The sewer matter is just one current example among many questionable actions: different signals being sent by city officials; delays and revisions that are costly to builders, developers and city taxpayers; an apparent willingness by city officials to change their guidelines, plans and policies whenever they wish. According to several witnesses, one city official recently said the city could change its planning policies whenever it wished, as frequently as every eight hours.

How can anyone plan with any certainty what the future holds with this kind of arrogant thinking? What kind of message does this send to someone thinking about making a long-term investment in the city? How can an investor, developer or contractor count on the city standing by its policies? Is the city’s word any good?

How many times has the intersection of Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive been changed? Consider the still-unfinished Sixth Street extension west of Wakarusa, which some now say was not designed correctly to handle current and projected traffic flows.

Something is wrong at City Hall. Someone is not demanding estimates to be accurate. There needs to be more accountability, and taxpayers must be assured personal likes and dislikes are not the determining factors in whether development plans receive a thumbs-up or thumbs-down from city bodies that control development.

There must be consistent policies, not policies that change willy-nilly depending on which way the wind is blowing and who is protesting behind the scenes and at City Commission meetings.

Also, someone in a City Hall leadership position needs to examine whether there are cases of conflict of interest in awarding contracts or business arrangements. What policies are in place to detect or avoid such ethical lapses?

Over the years, or at least until 20 or 30 years ago, Lawrence had the reputation of being a clean, above-board city with sound, clean law enforcement and clean city government. Special interests certainly were present and were quick to express their viewpoints and organize pressure tactics, but city officials had the courage to make their own decisions based on what was right, fair and in the best interests of the city and its residents. There was a consistency in how city ordinances and planning guidelines were applied.

However, something seems to have happened in recent years. There is a different environment in City Hall, a negative, cynical attitude rather than an atmosphere in which people try to help and figure out ways to solve problems. There’s too much finger-pointing, double talk and costly delay and too many questions about the accuracy of city projections for population numbers, traffic counts and city growth. All such shortcomings result in delays, unnecessary escalation of costs, double standards and a lack of confidence in City Hall.

Such actions have combined to sustain Lawrence’s unflattering reputation of being one of the most difficult cities in which to try to construct a building or start a business.

Lawrence needs to perform in a manner to merit the reputation of being a city with sound, reasonable and fair policies and guidelines for building and development, a city that is consistent in administering its policies and adhering to ordinances, a city that is tough and demanding in upholding building standards, a city that welcomes sound growth, a city that is concerned about protecting its environment, and a city where it is a joy to live, work and play for residents of all ages and economic levels.