A crowd of about 45 weren’t shy telling City Manager Chris Whittaker their ideas on how upcoming water rate hikes should be handled—and more—during a sometimes lively discussion Thursday at the city library.
Whittaker said he would take the input back to the city council at its Monday meeting to consider as a second, and final, vote on an initial rate hike is an agenda item.
The council meets at 5:30 p.m. at the Patterson Civic Center.
As expected, there were pleas for relief from the new rates for low-income residents and senior citizens.
There were also new ideas floated, asking if the city could “do the work itself” by creating a new department, or seek out new grant money from sources of which the city may not currently be aware.
ACTION GROUP—
Thursday’s session, termed a Water Action Group meeting, had a different focus than recent town halls.
“I’m here to listen, I’m here to write,” Whittaker told the crowd.
Topic has been the $48-million project to replace most water lines, build a new water treatment plant and upgrade another.
(There’s another $15-million-plus project to upgrade the sewer system, but that wasn’t part of the conversation Thursday.)
Speakers were not asked to identify themselves and there was no sign-in sheet.
Several addressed the possibility of rate relief for persons with low, or fixed, incomes and for senior citizens, particularly low-income senior citizens.
A preliminary rate study has indicated the average-use rate payer, with a standard 3/4-inch meter, would go from $73.84 to $106.69 this year and $177.63 by 2023. The final numbers almost certainly will change.
Comments included:
• “In this little town of 5,000 to 6,000 how many people do you think cannot pay that?”
• “Nobody has the money. We cannot afford a $50-million debt. We need to do like Nancy Reagan and just say ‘no’.”
DISCOUNTS—Several speakers asked the council to come up with a plan to lessen the rate-increase burden on senior citizens and/or low-income Rockdale rate payers.
One specific proposal asked for 33-percent decrease for 65-and-over covering water, sewer and trash collection with discounts based on income.
An attorney in the audience expressed concern an income-based plan would constitute an income tax instituted by the city, and said he feared such a plan would be successfully challenged in court.
There was also concern over the burden on those rate payers not qualifying. One comment: “There won’t be enough (non-discounted-customers) left to pay for it.”
A couple of commenters told Whittaker their families have already cut back, such as dropping cable or satellite TV in favor of an antenna, in anticipation of the new rates.
METER PLAN—Participants also wondered how the city plans to deal with requests to change out water meters.
Under the current proposal those serviced by meters larger than 3.4-inch would pay higher rates.
The city has promised to cooperate with those who want meters changed out from the larger diameters.
Whittaker said there are 2,180 3/4-inch meters in Rockdale, 400 one-inch meters and four 1-1/2 to 2-inch meters.
He noted it will take time to change out 440 meters but thought a program might be worked out for owners of larger meters where they immediately begin paying the 3/4-rate, then have the smaller meters installed when the city, or a contractor, can get to their location.
Whittaker said anyone wanting to know the size of their meter should call the city at 512-446-2511.
It was suggested the city look into the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act as a possible source for funding.
By Friday morning Whittaker had done that, and told The Reporter two funds through which the city has applied and already received rankings—the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund—are part of WIIN.
WILD CARDS—There were a number of other suggestions, including contacting the U. S. Agriculture Dept. to inquire about possible assistance.
It was mentioned the City of Jasper has conducted its own water system replacement program. Whittaker said he would contact that city.
Another suggestion was for the city to create a separate department to undertake the projects, including purchasing its own equipment, which then would be owned by the city.
In response to a question, Whittaker noted the actual final rates, and details of the project, have yet to be worked out and factors could still change the rates, perhaps downwards.
One major wild card remains the possibility of purchasing already treated water from one of three water supply companies—Southwest Milam, Blue and Aqua.
Whittaker said the city has already contacted those entities and requested feasibility studies which are to be presented at the council’s April meeting.
“There are drawbacks, too,” he said. “We don’t know if they can handle the amount of water we would be purchasing from them. Southwest Milam is expanding toward Taylor. Could they provide us with two million gallons a day during the summer? Who would pay for 10-12-mile pipeline to connect with Blue Water?”
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