Change in the water

by Danielle Switalski
| July 12, 2010 2:51 PM

The Plains water/waste water committee held a public meeting last Tuesday night to discuss changes to the town's water system.

The committee decided to address issues concerning late fees and equalizing the amount each user pays for service throughout the town.

As the town of Plains grew throughout the years, multiple residences throughout the town were not equally charged the base rate for their water supply. All residences should have been hooked up to a 3/4 inch line connecting that residence to the town's water supply.

However, many residences with multiple units were not charged for their share of water and sewage useage. The base rate is $15.04 for 4,000 gallons of water and $21.66 for sewer.

For example, an apartment complex in town with eight units is only paying one base rate for the entire complex, when they should be paying eight base rates to the town.

Although it is too expensive for the town to force landlords or residences to hookup a separate meter for each unit, the water committee discussed charging these residences the standard monthly water and sewer fees.

"It's adequate water but not adequate billing," said Carl Reeb, water committee chairman. "I have a unit in my house and should I choose to rent it I have to pay the base rate."

The issue for the public was not equalizing the water rates throughout town, but whether or not businesses, motels in particular, should have to pay an equal rate for each unit even though a hotel is not a permanent residence.

"The bulk of the people that are up at my place don't live in Plains and are here for a night," said Charlotte Buljung, owner of the Dew Duck Inn. "I think it's a good idea for Plains' residences and I just disagree with the motels."

Plains resident Pamela Lynch agreed that the water rates should be equitable for residences throughout the town and it would only be fair that all dwellings pay the same share.

The water committee concluded at the end of the meeting to address the issue with the city council and propose an ordinance that makes all residential units pay the base rate for water and sewer service regardless if they had an individual meter installed when they were established as dwellings.

Should the council choose to pursue this change to the water rates, there will be further public meetings to discuss the change.

In addition to discussing water rates with the city council, the water committee will also pursue changing the penalties for late fees on residents' water bills.

Currently all water payments are due by the first of each month and are considered delinquent after the 15th of each month. If any payment is received after the 15th, the resident is charged a late fee. After two months of non-payments, the residence receives a certified letter that saying they will receive a notice that their water will be shut off if they don't make a payment in approximately a week and a half. If a payment is still not made in the allotted time, then a final notice is posted on the residents door saying in three business days their water will be shut off unless a payment is made.

The water committee decided to suggest to the city council to eliminate the second step and following the second month of a delinquent payment, residents will no longer receive a letter in the mail. Instead, an immediate notice will be posted to the resident's door allerting the owner that they will have three business days to make a payment otherwise the water will be shut off.

If the council chooses to pursue this change and create a new ordinance, there will also be two public meetings to discuss the issue.

The city council meeting was held Tuesday, July 6. Please look to the Valley Press for further updates.