Stormwater Ltr. Rev. K. BickelDear Mayor Duggan,
Rev. Dr. Kenneth R. Bickel
Senior Minister
Rev. Nancy N. Bickel
Minister of Church Life
255 West 10th Street · Dubuque, Iowa 52001 · 563-582-3648
December 10, 2002
Dear Mayor Duggan,
I have served on the Stormwater Utility Citizen Action Committee for
the city of Dubuque and I have one chief concern I wish to share with the
members of the Dubuque City Council.
I believe that a Stormwater Utility is the wrong way to go in paying for
necessary and legitimate storm water concerns within our city. This attempt
has clearly been an attempt to tax the tax exempt property in the city. If you
deem the projects are needed then please raise property taxes to meet that
need. I own a home at 75 Fremont Avenue in Dubuque and I would be happy to
pay more property taxes to help meet the storm water concerns of our fair city.
These increased taxes would be tax deductible from my federal and state
income taxes and a fee would not be deductible for individual taxpayers.
Again, if the work is needed, please do it through property taxes.
Non-profit properties have been tax exempt over the history of this
nation because these institutions have been considered a blessing to our
community. Most citizens like having hospitals, colleges, public schools,
parochial schools, churches, synagogues, a rescue mission, a food pantry, a place
llke Maria House, and a place like Hillcrest as part of the community. I believe
that most citizens would rather pay slightly higher taxes then burden the
already cash strapped tax exempt organizations in Dubuque with a stormwater
utility fee.
Thank you for listening to my concern!
Sincerely yours,
Rev. Dr. Kenneth R. Bickel