The Rockdale City council unanimously passed the first of what are anticipated to be four water rate hikes, to cover an initial $10-million in expense, in a marathon council session/town hall Monday at the Patterson Center.
Those increases will help pay for a $48-million water system renovation to replace pipe, construct one new water plant and renovate a second, and replace about 26 miles of pipes, much of them dating back to pre-World War I.
There’s also at least $15 million in sewer system improvements to be done, some of them urgent as the city’s wastewater system is under fire from both the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
URGENT—“We need to so something tonight,” City Manager Chris Whittaker urged the council and a crowd of about 50, gathered to express a variety of concerns about the situation.
Whittaker said the initial hikes—which won’t be formally approved until a second reading on Feb. 11—cover planning and design for both water and sewer improvements.
Most importantly, according to Whittaker, the increases will allow the city to show the agencies “we’re doing something to address the concerns.”
At a similar town hall Jan. 10 at New Hope Baptist Church, Whittaker had cautioned if the agencies had perceived the city not to be addressing those concerns .
“They could start fining us,” he said.
RATES—Results of a by-now familiar water rate study—were presented by consultant Matthew Garrett.
The initial hike is forecast to raise the average (6,000 gallons usage) water and sewer bill from the current $73.83 to $106.69 this year.
With additional hikes planned between now and 2023, that bill would climb to $195.98 by 2023.
Those estimates don’t include garbage pickup.
Impacts on lower use and higher use customers were also presented.
COMPLEX—But it’s not that simple. Monday’s discussion highlighted a number of factors the city must attempt to address before the second, and final, reading of the initial round of hikes in February.
Those factors include:
• Should groups like senior citizens and low-income customers be “given a break” in the increases. Several speakers urged that on Monday, including former council member Gerri Offield. It was pointed out that such actions would essentially raise the rates on other sections of Rockdale’s population.
• If water customers want their meter connections downsized—the rates currently charge more for the larger connections—should the city or the customer bear the price.
• Could the city save its customers by purchasing water from entities like Southwest Milam, Blue or Aqua Water. Feasibility studies are due this spring.
MEETINGS—There’s another town hall set for 5:30 Thursday at the Patterson Center and Whittaker will host a Water Action Group brainstorming session at 6 p.m. Jan. 31 at the city library.
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