To the editor:

First of all, I want to say that my husband and I were both very fortunate to have worked in two of the best places in Fort Dodge. Ron worked at Fort Dodge Labs for 36 years and I worked at Iowa Central Community College for over 28 years.

Yes, we have wonderful pensions but why do we have to be concerned about using all savings with the cost of rising expenses? Obviously health insurance raises premiums every year. Real estate taxes go up most years. “Water bill” goes up several times a year in past years.

My reason for writing a letter to the editor is this. Isn’t there something that could be done to help seniors stay in their home and not be forced out just to pay rent of $800 or more when house payments were fairly close to half that amount.

Seems to me that something could be done about the “water bill.” (I put in quotes because we all know it includes more than just water). Why couldn’t there be a different rate for single and double occupancy homes and one rate for three or more in the household? Remember when we used to get “water bill” quarterly and the price was $35. Thirty-five dollars for three months and now it is basically $100 a month (ours is $99.59) Didn’t realize those recyclable and garbage containers would cost that much.

And then there is the real estate taxes. In 2006 our taxes were $1,700 a year and now they are $2,200 a year, That may not seem like a lot to some of you but to people on fixed income it is a lot. Many people think seniors over 65 or 70 should not have to pay real estate taxes because they have paid their share. Good idea. Even if the city would allow seniors to pay half what they are now paying would be beneficial. Now please don’t get the bright idea to raise taxes an exorbitant amount then cut seniors taxes. I must admit I do not remember all the particulars about this, but what happened to the reducing of our real estate taxes we signed up for? Never heard anything more about it.

Not that it really matters, but I think that plan for North 15th Street would not make travel more safe as some think. Would it really be worth all the money to carry out their plan? Another concern I have is why do we pay tens of thousands of dollars to hire an consultant from out of town for several of our projects when I truly believe the residents of Fort Dodge could work with the City Council to come up with a solution. Use the tens of thousands to pay someone to work in the water department and code single and double occupancy homes separate from multiple dwelling homes.

I sincerely hope that the City Council will consider doing something realistic to help seniors stay in their homes. Thank you.

Iris Jones

Fort Dodge