Taxpayers association president Howard Stephenson said for UTOPIA member cities to try to play god with the economy is the height of arrogance and ignorance.

Centerville Mayor Ron Russell said the council had been presented with two bad options.

The two council members who voted against the plan, Ken Averett and Larry Wright, were elected in November.

Averett said previous mismanagement of UTOPIA and a lack of disclosed financial and marketing plan made it impossible to support the refinancing plan.

A proposed up-front connection fee of $1,000 to $3,500 wouldn't fly with future subscribers, he said.

Averett said 150 residents have contacted him, and 90 percent have told him not to support the plan.

"My constituents have spoken. I've listened and I'm voting no," he said.

Wright said Centerville has been asked to take on considerable risk.

"It sounds great and the concept is wonderful," Wright said. "I believe a vote against the refinancing is not a vote against UTOPIA."

Councilman Paul Cutler, who is currently serving at UTOPIA's interim deputy director, councilwoman Sherri Lindstrom and councilman Justin Allen said they agree mistakes have been made, but the city should forge ahead because a no vote would have meant the city would be forced to pay money for 20 years for very little infrastructure.

"At the end end of the day, how am I the best steward of the tax dollars of Centerville city?" Allen said. "It is with a lot of reservation that I will be supporting the refinance in the hopes that we can make it work."

"Out of two awful, awful options, that is the slightly more acceptable option to me," he said.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com