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Show Gity Delays Decision on Utility Increase Proposal At the conclusion of a Pleasant Grove City Council public hearing held Nov. 16, 2010, the council unanimously voted to delay a decision on the proposed utility rate increase until they could get the answers to some questions raised during the lengthy public hearing. One important question was whether larger pipe to carry water could be used and this would save some expenses. The council agreed that this should be studied and dciayed a final decision on the proposed increase until this possibility was studied. There was a large turnout for the public hearing on the proposed rate increase which was held in the fire station building. A large crowd was anticipated and a large crowd attended. Many residents took the opportunity to address the city council about the proposed utility rate increase for water service charges. Fees being discussed were Water Service Charges, Timpanogos Special Service District fees, Storm Water Utility, Storm Water Utility fee, and City Pressurized Irrigation System fees. City leaders noted that they have put off increasing the utility rate fees to adequately support each utility and thJy can no longer do-this: The gist of the arguments from the public were based around the fact that many people say they simply cannot afford this great of an increase due to the depressed economy and many living on fixed incomes. The city is asking for an increase in culinary water rates from the current $9.45 per month to the $10.11 proposed rate for 2011, along with an increase for secondary water from $16.20 to $34.99, sewer from the present $24.86 to $31.08, and storm drain from $3.00 to $9.75. This raises rates to $85.93 from $53.51 of a total increase of $32.42, a 61 per cent increase in year one. Increases would continue annually through 2014. A comparative rate charge . for nearby cities for 2011 was given for comparison. These included Cedar Hills with total rates beginning in 2011 at $94.60 per month; Lindon, $75.90; American "Rates" continued on Page 7 "Rates" continued from Page 1 Council Member Danklef noted near the end of the meeting that the city has agreements to pay back the bonds it received and they must be paid. "We want to do what must be done to make our city solvent. I lay awake at night worrying about this, but it is here and we must be working on it or we will be in trouble, he said." Council Member Boyd said she wants to assure the citizens that she doesn't know all the answers but they will do their very best to do what is necessary for the city. Council Member Robinson added that she has learned that she can go to any of the city employees to get all the information she can so that she understands and she wants the very best for the city. She stated that these decisions will impact all of us and they are very important. Council Member Wilson noted that the city cannot keep putting these things off, and off, and off. They need to take action on this matter, he emphasized. Council Member Jensen said this decision is very hard. People on fixed incomes have a hard time but it's not just us, it is also those who come after us that we must think about, he stated. City Administrator Scott Darrington told the council that the city could research answers to questions brought up during this public hearing and have them ready for next week, and things which take longer can be done later. A motion was made to continue , the meeting until November 30, 2010. Fork, $100.36; Spanish Fork, $82.72; and Saratoga Springs, $92.35 In Pleasant Grove there was a suggested increase of $5 per month for secondary water. This would go into effect in April, 2011. It was noted that secondary water is not metered and people have complained at having to pay as much as the heavy water users do for secondary water. The council explained that it is too expensive right now to meter secondary water. It was explained that the Timpanogos Treatment Plant has also raised costs charged to the city to cover the expense of expansion of the plant. It was also noted that retention basins in the city which have been used in the past to hold excess water to divert into the Murdock Canal are no longer viable because of enclosing the canal water in a pipe. The city will have to pipe the water from these retention basins into the new pipe carrying the water in the Murdock Canal project. This will also cost the city a large sum of money. Many residents took the opportunity to speak during the public hearing and expressed their serious concerns about raising rates with the economy down as it is now. One elderly lady noted that she is very careful in her use of the city water and makes sure she does not overuse it nor the secondary water. As one would expect, no one was in favor of the rate hike but most understood why it had to be done, but the residents on fixed income or those with young families were very concerned about how they could pay the higher rates. |