OCR Text |
Show Water Rates Dominate Session at Escalante At a recent special meeting of the Escalante Town Council, the subject was water rates, in and out of town. A number of Escalante residents were present, some who live in town and some who live outside the town's borders. Council members present were Anne Spencer, Johnny Alvey, Stanley Stowe, and Gary Lane Liston. The meeting was conducted by Mayor Wade Barney. At the June 23 regular meeting of the council, council members had raised rates for in-town service to $8.75 and for out-of-town service to $17.50. The minutes show that earlier discussion between Mayor Barney and Stanley Stowe agreed that out-of-town rates were a little high and out-of-town residents should not have to bear the entire burden. The special meeting was scheduled to try to make rates more equitable. The subject was opened to questions from residents whose thrust was the disparity between in-town in-town and out-of-town rates. Stowe explained that the town's first responsibility is to its residents and that residents should be encouraged en-couraged to live in town. He said that headwaters were in disrepair and need replacing, a very expensive ex-pensive projept He said the town currently has $35,000 earmarked for the project but that it would undoubtedly cost considerably more than the town has. Danny Reid suggested the town check into grants for the project. Several out-of-town residents said they felt they were being punished for living out of town, and that they lacked the fire protection those in town enjoy. Council members explained ex-plained mat under their agreement with the countv. the town's fire department is obligated to respond to fires in the county, Council members mem-bers also indicated that out-of-town lines are not up to standard and the situation would have to be remedied with fire hydrants placed every 800 feet. At least one area in town also did not meet fire standards, they agreed. Council members reported that water rates in other communities had been checked and that Escalante's rates are lower than those in surrounding towns. The council entered deliberations for a final decision on the rates. Mayor Barney said he felt out-of-town rates should be double those of in-town residents. Alvey said he thought they should be the same for both. Stowe motioned to raise in-town in-town rates to $8 for water and $2 for television, a total of $10 per month with out-of-town water rates to be $13 and television $2, for a total of $15 per month. Spencer seconded the motion. The motion carried with Alvey voting against and Liston absent for the vote. |