"have been involved with this effort for several years now.  We are attempting to have our city purchase the water utility, currently owned by the German conglomerate RWE AG.  Our petition drive to place this imporant issue on the ballot was an enormous success.

Posted on Fri, Jun. 10, 2005 - Lexington Herald Leader
Pushing for a water vote
Citizens group presents petitions to council

By Michelle Ku

HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Hoping to keep condemnation of Kentucky American Water alive, a citizens group last night submitted a stack of petitions bearing more than 26,000 signatures directing the city to purchase the water utility.

Fayette County Clerk Don Blevins said his office has already checked 22,500 of the signatures on the petition by Let Us Vote Lexington and determined that 20,515 of them were valid.

LUV needed to gather 18,315 signatures of registered voters to place the petition on the ballot for residents to decide the long-running and controversial condemnation question.

"These petitions clearly represent the will of thousands of citizens," said Gloria Singletary, co-chair of LUV, as she presented the petitions to the Urban County Council.

In essence, the petition directs the city to purchase Kentucky American, by eminent domain if necessary, unless the price is so high that revenues from water bills won't pay for it. The petition drive started in late January, after the council switched from a 9-6 majority in favor of condemnation to a 9-6 majority against.
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/11863500.htm