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Local landlord urges review after AI‑assisted survey shows Philomath water and sewer rates higher than peers
Summary
A Philomath property owner told the council Sept. 8 he used an AI‑assisted survey to compare water and sewer rates and found Philomath at or near the top of the list. He urged the council to set rates with affordability in mind and to publish comparative data for residents.
Mark Knudson, a Philomath property owner, addressed the council during public comment on Sept. 8, presenting results of a self‑conducted comparison of water and sewer rates.
Knudson said he used public documents and an AI prompt to compare municipalities of roughly 3,000 to 10,000 residents and concluded Philomath’s combined water and sewer charges were substantially higher than many peers. “I was amazed at AI, but almost as amazed at the results,” Knudson said. He urged the council to develop rates based on what is reasonable for households, not only on the city’s list of capital needs, and to publish comparative rate information for residents.
Knudson also noted the effect on renters: many tenants in the city do not have individual water meters, so higher utility bills are passed to them indirectly through landlords.
Council response and follow up: councilors acknowledged the comment and staff said the city’s consultants will compare Philomath to peer cities as part of ongoing rate work; staff offered to bring comparative data to the next meeting or to a future presentation by the utility manager.
Discussion vs. decision: the remarks were public comment; no council action or rate change was taken at the Sept. 8 meeting.
