OUR VIEW/QUICK TAKES: A solid move on Deltona water

Staff Writer

The Daytona Beach News-Journal

Members of Deltona Strong, from left: Brandy White, Troy Shimkus, Dana McCool, Terri Ellis and Dayle Whitman. Deltona Strong, an organization of residents taking on community concerns, has long been working toward a state audit of the city's water company. The City Commission recently voted to have Rep. David Santiago, R-Deltona, look into it. [News-Journal/Katie Kustura]

For years, questions about water and wastewater have been a dominant and defining factor in Deltona city politics. Now, the city is acting to find some answers.

People didn’t just disagree about how and where the city provided services, or how much they cost. There have always been fundamental doubts about the data city officials use to determine things like rates, whether the city’s system meets necessary standards and the level of customer service Deltona residents should expect.

Last week, the Deltona City Commission voted to spend $191,437 to hire KPMC, a “Big Four” accounting/auditing firm, to conduct a deep-dive look at the water/sewer utility. It may seem like a lot of money, but the contract’s terms cover a lot of ground: KPMG will investigate Deltona Water’s finances, its physical facilities and its financial structure.

The smartest move may have been its decision to incorporate outspoken critics of the system from the start. One of the members of the committee that chose KPMG is Dana McCool, who famously protested an unusually high spike in her water bill by paying off her $493 water bill with a small wheelbarrow full of pennies.

Deltona commissioners should make it clear to the consultant that it needs to give members of the public plenty of opportunities to weigh in as the study progresses, and the end product should reflect their input -- through public comment, on Facebook and through the civic-action group Deltona Strong. For most of the city’s 25-year history, distrust has fueled tremendous friction. While it may not satisfy everyone, the final report will do the most good if most Deltonans trust the accuracy of the facts it relies on.

EXTRA CREDIT

It’s doubtful the city would have gotten this far without the efforts of State Rep. David Santiago, himself a former Deltona city commissioner. Santiago’s shuttle diplomacy between city leaders and critics, including Deltona Strong, has been essential. And we give Santiago credit for working hard to get funding in this year’s state budget, though Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed it. Santiago has earned trust from both sides of this long-running contention, and that’s not easy.