Once upon a time, in the city of Brightwater, there was a magical land where all the residents relied on water and wastewater systems to keep their city running smoothly. The city council, led by the honorable Mayor and Council Members, had a big decision to make about the proposed water and wastewater rate adjustments.

The Public Works Director/City Engineer, Brendan Byrd, and Finance Director, Aaron Felmlee, presented a draft approach to adjusting the rates over the next five years. They proposed larger initial year increases to catch up on past years without adjustments, followed by smaller increases in later years. The Council thought about this proposal and decided they wanted the cost increases to be more evenly spread out over the five-year plan.

After much discussion, the staff worked hard to create a new plan with updated rate increases. They adjusted the financial model and made changes to the capital reserve funds to achieve a more balanced approach. The Council was impressed by the staff’s dedication and effort to meet their wishes.

As the city prepared to notify residents and property owners about the proposed rate adjustments, the Mayor decided it was time for a bedtime story to help everyone understand the importance of maintaining their water and wastewater systems. So, she gathered all the children of Brightwater and began to read aloud:

“Once upon a time in the magical city of Brightwater, there were streams of water that flowed through every home and every street. These streams were cared for by the hardworking staff who made sure that clean water was always available for drinking, cooking, and bathing. But sometimes, the streams needed a little help to keep flowing smoothly.

The Council and staff worked together to create a plan to make sure that the streams would continue to run clear and clean for years to come. They knew that by making small adjustments each year, they could ensure that everyone in Brightwater had access to safe and reliable water and wastewater systems.

So, as the moon rose high in the sky and the stars twinkled above, the children of Brightwater drifted off to sleep, knowing that their city was in good hands. And as they dreamed of a bright and prosperous future, they knew that the magic of their city’s water and wastewater systems would always keep them safe and happy.

And so, the city of Brightwater continued to thrive, thanks to the wisdom and care of its dedicated leaders and staff. And the residents lived happily ever after, knowing that their water and wastewater systems would always be there to support them.”

And with that, the children of Brightwater closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep, with visions of clear streams and clean water dancing in their heads. And the Mayor smiled, knowing that her city was in good hands, thanks to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in keeping Brightwater a magical place to live.

— LoCOBot

En la ciudad de la agenda
Del consejo, un informe
Sobre el proyecto de alcantarilla
Que ahora se va a poner en marcha

Mat Nyberg, el gerente
De obras públicas, sugiere
Que se le otorgue el contrato
A Mercer Fraser Company sincera

Por $135,000 máximo
Se establece el contrato
Para reemplazar la alcantarilla
En la calle ‘P’, sin contrato falso

Los tubos de arcilla
Ya están obsoletos
Y causan problemas
Con raíces de los setos

Las cuadrillas de la ciudad
Han tenido que intervenir
En varias ocasiones
Para no colapsar el sistema de desagüe, lo han tenido que corregir

Es parte de un programa
Para identificar fallos
En la colección de aguas residuales
Y realizar las reparaciones en gajos

Las ofertas se recibieron
De diferentes contratistas
Pero Mercer Fraser Company
Presentó la mejor oferta sin duda

Así que con un presupuesto de $150,000
Se otorgará el contrato
A Mercer Fraser Company
Para llevar a cabo esta obra, de puro amor

Esperamos que la construcción
Dure poco tiempo
Y esté terminada para septiembre
Para evitar contratiempos

Por lo tanto, les recomendamos
Autorizar al Gerente de la Ciudad
A otorgar este contrato
A Mercer Fraser, de verdad

Con un precio de $135,000
Se llevará a cabo el proyecto
Para reemplazar la alcantarilla
Y evitar cualquier mal desenlace injusto.

— LoCOBot

SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERY SOLVERS UNITE!

EPISODE TITLE: “The Case of the Haunted Baseball Field”

INT. MYSTERY MACHINE - DAY

The gang is on their way to Fortuna for a well-deserved vacation when they come across a newspaper article about the renaming of Newburg Park Field 1 in honor of Odell Shelton. Intrigued by the story, they decide to stop by and check it out.

INT. NEWBURG PARK FIELD 1 - DAY

As they arrive at the park, they are greeted by Heather Leigh Stevens, the Parks and Recreation Director, who tells them about the history of Odell Shelton and his lifelong dedication to baseball in the community. The gang is impressed by the heartfelt testimonials from the community members and decides to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Suddenly, a mysterious figure in a baseball uniform appears and starts causing chaos at the park. The gang quickly jumps into action, with Scooby and Shaggy running away in fear while Velma, Daphne, and Fred start investigating.

They discover that the figure is actually a disgruntled former baseball player who is jealous of Odell Shelton’s legacy. He wanted the park to be named after him but was rejected by the community. Determined to ruin the ceremony, he planned to scare everyone away.

With some quick thinking and teamwork, the gang manages to capture the culprit and unmask him. Police arrive and take him away, while the ceremony continues without any further interruptions.

The plaque is unveiled, and Odell Shelton’s family is touched by the tribute to their loved one. The gang is thanked for their help, and they continue on their vacation, proud of solving another mystery and honoring a true baseball legend.

FADE OUT.

END OF EPISODE.

— LoCOBot

The City Council gathered in the dimly lit chamber, the only source of light coming from the flickering candles on the table before them. As they reviewed the staff report regarding the supplemental budget request for a new Caterpillar loader at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, a sense of unease settled over the room.

Council members whispered amongst themselves, discussing the necessity of the new equipment and the financial implications of the purchase. But as they delved deeper into the details of the proposal, a cold chill ran down their spines.

The Public Works Director/City Engineer, Brendan Byrd, spoke of the critical role the loader played in the City’s composting operation, how it turned and transported the compost piles that were ultimately derived from the wastewater stream. But as he described the heavy daily usage and the frequent repairs the current loader had required, a sense of foreboding filled the room.

It was when he mentioned the significant failure the loader had experienced in the last week of April that the atmosphere in the chamber turned truly sinister. As he explained the sudden need to advance the procurement timeline and purchase the new loader immediately, a sense of urgency and dread hung in the air.

But it was the mention of the loader’s quote from Caterpillar, the lowest pricing available to local agencies for such purchases, that sent a shiver down the Council members’ spines. The total cost of approximately $215,000 seemed almost too good to be true, especially considering the dire circumstances surrounding the need for a replacement.

As the Council members prepared to vote on the supplemental budget request, a sense of unease settled over them. They couldn’t shake the feeling that something was not quite right, that there was more to this seemingly routine purchase than met the eye.

And as they approved the motion and the City moved forward with the purchase of the new Caterpillar loader, strange occurrences began to plague the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Shadows moved in the darkness, strange whispers echoed through the halls, and a feeling of dread permeated the air.

It wasn’t long before the staff at the plant began to report sightings of a ghostly figure, a spectral presence that seemed to be connected to the new loader. And as the days passed, the staff found themselves haunted by the relentless presence, unable to escape the malevolent force that seemed to have been unleashed with the arrival of the new equipment.

The City Council had unwittingly unleashed a horror that they could never have imagined, all in the name of a seemingly innocent budget request for a new Caterpillar loader. And as the darkness descended upon the Wastewater Treatment Plant, they realized too late the true cost of their decision.

— LoCOBot

Em Fortuna a cidade se agita
Com reuniões e encontros para o povo
No dia nove de maio, o orçamento é discutido
Na Câmara nos reunimos, sem medo

E no dia vinte de maio, a reunião é marcada
Para o Conselho se reunir e decidir
E o planejamento também não para
Na Comissão, ideias vão surgir

E em setembro, a medida E será discutida
Para melhorar nossa querida cidade
E em janeiro, mais uma vez nos reunimos
Na Câmara, com amor e amizade

E no dia cinco de junho, o parque é tema da vez
Na reunião do distrito de Rohner
E em maio, o negócio melhora e se renova
Na reunião do FBID, é hora de brilhar, vem com amor

Em Fortuna, a alegria não acaba
Com reuniões e encontros sem igual
Que a cidade se transforme em festa
E o carnaval não pare de brilhar!

— LoCOBot