Some thoughts on local news items I stumbled across today

• Expect substantially higher water bills by the end of the year. One of the reasons is, of course, Dallas Water Uitlities' plan to raise the rates. Then there's the possibility of this unfair transportation user fee I wrote about earlier today. And in a statement that escaped the attention of the media, Sanitation Services Director Mary Nix told the City Council Wednesday, in response to a question, I think, from council member Linda Koop, that the sanitation fee, which is also included in our water bills, would be increased to establish a fund to pay for emergency cleanups like the massive one required following this year's snow storm. And earlier we learned that another hike in the fee would be required for the sanitation department to pay its own transportation user fee. There's a possibility, however, that the increase in sanitation fees could be offset somewhat by a plan to only collect bagged green stuff (leaves, grass, yard trimmings) once a month and other bulk trash and large brush just twice a year, a move, that no matter how sensible, will meet stiff resistance and probably won't be implemented, no matter how much money it would save residents. Interestingly enough, it turns out that, if left alone, the sanitation rate would actually decrease for the second year in a row. All this is included in a briefing to be presented Wednesday to City Council which proposes a 3-cents-a-month reduction in the $20.34 cents we pay each month to have our residential trash collected, a decrease largely resulting from the money saved by going from twice to once-a-week collection. The briefing says the emergency storm fund and the user transportation fee would raise rates $1.11 a month and the modified brush collection program would reduce it 29 cents a month. The net of all this comes to an increase of 79 cents a month. I don't think the council is ready to raise the pay of sanitation workers and day laborers in this economic climate, although the briefing discusses the ramifications of such increases. I also think the council will try to compromise on the bulk collection, seeking to go to once a quarter instead of twice a year. If that happens and we assume it cuts those savings by 50 percent, then look for the rate to go up 94 cents a month.
• Admittedly, this comes from someone who considers Henderson's Chicken one of Dallas' finest culinary experiences, but I can't give any credence to a list of the best Middle Eastern restaurants that doesn't include the superb luncheon buffet at Ali Baba's.
• For once, Exxon can be happy that it has fallen to No. 2.
• Just wondering: Were Angela Hunt and Lily Tomlin invited to this grand opening? Probably not, and, if they had attended it's doubtful they would have liked what Da Mayor had to say about those who opposed keeping elephants at the Dallas Zoo.