Water rates are set to increase in Weston in March, with the hike worrying water districts who purchase their water from the city.
The residential water rate increase was approved by the board of aldermen at its Monday, Jan. 14 meeting. The minimum charge of $18.56 per month remains unchanged, but the gallon rate increased to $8.50 per 1,000 gallons, up from $8.07 per 1,000 gallons.
Rural water districts No. 3 and No. 7 purchase water from the city, and with an increase looming for them as well, Jake Mallonee of No. 7 spoke out at the meeting.
The city conducted a water rate analysis last summer, and city clerk Kim Kirby said correspondence with the water districts was initiated at end of the analysis. Mallonee, however, said the water district was unaware what the rate change would be and that the district board needed more time to discuss its options.
During a tense exchange, Mallonee and mayor Cliff Harvey disagreed over the conversation they had after the water district received a letter in December. Mallonee said the district had changed attorneys and the new attorney had not yet seen the updated rate agreement. He asked for more time to bring the rate change to the board.
Harvey said the water district had enough time and should have attended to the matter sooner. When Mallonee asked for a one year extension of the current rate, Harvey said it was out of the question.
Board members discussed giving the district more time, and agreed to extend its deadline to February – which was the deadline also given to Water District No. 3.
Currently, No. 7 pays $2.31 per 1,000 gallons. The rate would increase to $3.10 per 1,000 gallons. For No. 3, the rate is higher because the district utilizes the city’s distribution system. No. 3’s water rate will increase to $4.13 per 1,000 gallons.
Both districts have asked for more time and have asked the city to consider alternatives.
Alderman Joyce Priddy and community member Jeff Elsea have been working on a voluntary annexation project for the past year. On their list is the long-anticipated annexation of McCormick’s Distillery into the city, along with several other properties in that area.
Elsea told the board the talks were preceding, but very slowly.
“We’ve gotten a lot further this time than we have in the past,” Harvey said. “That’s thanks to Jeff and Joyce.”
Also at the meeting, Harvey said during a recent Coffee With Commissioners informal meeting that commissioners asked him if the city of Weston had an interest in unused park land near Weston. The 92 acres of county-owned property off Highway P is undeveloped. The board did not discuss the suggestion, and no formal proposal has been made.