MENTONE – The last time the town of Mentone raised its water rates was 2004.
Monday night, the town council discussed the need to raise those rates.
Tim Croy, council president, said, “It’s half way through the year and we’re about half way through the money.”
He said the town needs to do a rate study to increase the water rate. Jill Gross, councilwoman, confirmed the rate increase would be for water only and not water and sewer.
“Is there any way to cut (water) expenses?” Shelly Krueger, councilwoman, asked.
“Not really,” Croy said. By the time all the equipment is maintained and the water is treated and tested, it takes a lot of money, he said.
By the time the study is complete and the rates improved, Gross said it will probably be the first of 2013.
Croy said the study will cost about $1,500 and they have to do a study. H.J. Umbaugh & Associates will do the study and present their figures to the town.
“For a majority (of Mentone residents), it will increase both water and sewer,” Croy said, “but we need to provide them with safe drinking water and a way to get it to them.”
Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd said everything else has gone up, including costs to the utilities department. “The last time we raised it was eight years ago,” Croy said.
According to an Oct. 5, 2004, Times-Union story, the town council voted at the Oct. 4 meeting to increase water rates 25 percent and sewer rates 50 percent across the board. Umbaugh & Associates had suggested at that time the water rate also be increased by about 50 percent, but the council decided not to go that high with the water rate. The proposed increases were to happen all at one time instead of being phased in, according to the story.
In 1998, the sewer rate decreased while the water rate increased, according to the story.
Krueger suggested raising the water rates in smaller increments.
“That’s what we’re trying to do now,” Shepherd said. “We want to do it at eight years instead of 12 years.”
“That’s our big thing. We can’t operate if we don’t have the money to do it,” Croy said.
Croy also said renters leave without paying their water bills, and some homeowners are behind on their water bills but expect the town to provide water to them.
He said people won’t pay their water bill but will pay for the Internet or their cigarettes.
Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross said the study will suggest to the town how much the water rate should be increased. It also has to be published before being approved.
Gross asked Shepherd if the water tower also needs painting.
“We’re going to put it in the budget for next year,” Shepherd replied.
Ross was directed to get the process started for a water rate study.
