DUBOIS – City of DuBois Manager John “Herm” Suplizio came to the defense of the city’s police, fire responders and road crew at the Monday night council meeting. Suplizio expressed his feelings at some of the comments the city gets.
Suplizio thanked the police for the work that they do. He notified the public and audience that the police department handles hundreds of calls a month. Council member Diane Bernardo stated that the police department’s budget is $1.4 million a year.
The city’s volunteer fire department receives $220 thousand a year from the city. According to Suplizio this is how much the city paid the fire department in 2006 and how much they were paid in 2011. If the city were to switch to a paid fire department the cost would go up. The cost of having the department on a city payroll would be $1.5 million according to Suplizio’s figures to $2.25 million according to Bernardo based off of her time as City Controller. The fire department also takes care of Community Days on its own. A paid fire department would require a cut in projects or services unless the citizens of DuBois wanted to see higher taxes.
According to Suplizio taxes have remained at the same rate as 2003 with exception of 2009 where the city lowered the taxes the citizens needed to pay.
Suplizio also applauded the work of the public works crews. Some of their accomplishments listed were replacing the city’s century old water transfer infrastructure. Some of it still using lead piping. 54, 428 feet of sewer lines replace with 17 thousand of that being in-house. 190 leaks in the water lines being fixed. Fifty alleys have been paved in the city.
According to Suplizio, a man had said to him, “[city workers] are lazy and a bunch of clowns.”
“We have a great place to live here,” said Suplizio.
The city hears other complaints ranging from bats inside homes to people attempting to schedule hospital appointments and pay their hospital bills through the city.
“People get so irate when we are unable to schedule their MRI for them,” said Suplizio.