Dover Township Mayor Brush wants to dissolve MUA and impose land grab - By Joseph A. Lypowy  6/22/05

   I feel like I’m having a Deja Vu after reading that Dover Township Mayor Brush is pushing to have the Dover MUA dissolved. It was only several years ago that the Democrats attempted to dismantle the DMUA and here we go again. Brush says the DMUA should be dissolved and then incorporated as a township department to save money. In light of Dover Township’s recent 22% tax increase and spending frenzy, I’m not sure if the township should be used as a model of fiscal frugality. If there truly is a need for cost containment at the agency, then there are other ways to achieve that instead of “throwing the baby away with the bathwater”.
I believe that Brushes recent interest in the MUA is a ploy to raid the surplus resources of the utility and make himself look like a hero just in time for his re-election attempt. When Brush ran for mayor he promised that if elected he would save the taxpayers of Dover Twp. millions of Dollars, but instead presided over the largest tax increase in township history. In order for him to have any chance of re-election, he will have to pull a rabbit out of his hat and the MUA might just be his magic rabbit.
As a Dover Township taxpayer and MUA ratepayer I believe my municipal taxes should be used for township services, my school taxes should be used for education and my sewer payments should be used to maintain the sewers, not gimmicks for election time. I do agree that if the MUA was dissolved, its surpluses should be disbursed amongst the rate payers, it’s true owners. Brush says he would like to see Dover MUA land off water street be sold and the proceeds should be absorbed by the town. I agree in part that the land should be sold, but I believe the proceeds should be disbursed amongst the rate payers, or at least to offset future sewer costs.