Waitsburg Council: No Rate Hikes

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg City Council last Wednesday did not approve a new utility hike that would have charged customers more for water and sewer.

A recent study showed the city's water and sewer rates are not covering the cost to provide the services.

A previous proposal was for a $14 increase spread out over two years with each $3.50 increase occurring in April and October of 2012 and 2013.

The city council asked for a new, one-year proposal that would charge residents less.

Currently, for water the city is currently charging $27.10 a month, with an ad- dition 59 cents per 100 cubic feet for those who use more water than allotted.

As for sewer, the city is still paying on the wastewater treatment plant and sewer line projects. In 2001, the rate was raised to $39 a month and now it is $40.60.

An extra $14 a month, under the proposal, would have meant an extra $168 out of residents' pockets over the course of a year.

The money would keep the city's water and sewer systems up and running and would fund replacement and maintenance of sewer lines.

Wednesday night, City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said the previous proposal was "maybe a little too much too fast." He suggested a one-year increase of $2.30 a month.

"It allows us to increase the fund to levels where they're sufficient for a year," Hinchliffe said.

However, it wouldn't provide enough money for capital improvements in the water and sewer systems.

Councilman Scott Nettles said the amount was still to large of an increase. He also said he does not like the fact that the city is estimating cool, wet weather that would mean lower water useage by customers.

" I can't go with that ( amount)," Nettles said. "I'm sorry."

Hinchliffe said the city is going to have to raise its rates at some point.

Mayor Walt Gobel wondered aloud whether the new sewage treatment plant would be able to keep up to speed without any extra money.

The motion to raise the water and sewer costs $2.30 died for lack of motion.