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Bicknell council schedules public hearing after debate over new irrigation fee
Summary
Bicknell leaders discussed a proposed irrigation ordinance and a new $16.25 monthly access fee; council scheduled a public hearing and will place the fee in the town's fee schedule after required advertisement.
Bicknell council members and staff on March 27 discussed a proposed change to the town's irrigation ordinance that would shift charges from acreage-based or share-based billing to a monthly access fee and placed a public hearing on the schedule.
The council considered a draft that would set the residential irrigation access fee at $16.25 per month and create separate commercial rates. Council members heard staff financial figures showing the irrigation operation has taken in $10,490 so far in the current year while spending roughly $23,000, and that last year the town collected $19,004.76 for irrigation. Town cash balances cited at the meeting included $224,828 in the general fund, $214,000 in capital projects, $234,000 in the water fund and $60,000 in the irrigation fund.
Why it matters: Council members said the goal is to cover the town's costs for maintaining the pressurized distribution system, not to charge for the amount of water each customer uses. Proponents said a flat monthly fee would simplify billing and ensure funds are available for pipe repairs and pump work; others raised fairness questions for residents who own multiple irrigation shares but use less water.
Council members and staff agreed that the ordinance text itself would be separate from the fee, which will be shown on the town's fee schedule. The council directed staff to advertise a public hearing (the council noted a 14-day advertising requirement) and tentatively scheduled that hearing for the April work meeting on April 24. The hearing will give residents a formal opportunity to comment before the council adopts any fee schedule change.
Council members also discussed how the town accounts for irrigation costs. One council member said, "We have to charge that because that brings in 25,000, and we spend 25,000 at least every year on it," summarizing the town's objective of making the fund self-sustaining. Staff noted the town's responsibility is access to the pressurized system and pipes; the ordinance would charge for access rather than water volume or share ownership.
Next steps: Council members were asked to review the draft irrigation ordinance and proposed fee schedule before the next work meeting. If the council moves forward after the public hearing, the fee will be added to the town's adopted fee schedule and the ordinance updated as needed.
