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Commission approves three‑step water rate plan (option B) and sewer increases after presentation from Greater Harrison PSD consultants
Summary
After a lengthy presentation on an $11.4 million water/sewer project and debate over minimum billing tiers, the commission approved option B for water and option C for sewer rate increases; consultants said grants reduced net project costs.
The Harrison County Commission approved a three‑step water‑rate increase (option B) and a sewer‑rate package (option C) for Greater Harrison Public Service District after a detailed presentation from Thrasher Group consultant Kylie Radcliffe and PSD accountant Zach Dobbins.
Kylie Radcliffe described planned system improvements — line replacements, a new booster station and storage tank for the Valley Of Good Hope system, and upgrades to address chronic water loss — and explained that smaller-diameter lines and distribution constraints pose tradeoffs between water quality turnover and fire protection. Zach Dobbins said the sewer project is budgeted at about $11,400,000 and that recent grant awards have provided roughly $5,000,000 in matching funds, which reduces the district’s net borrowing need.
A Zoom commenter, Tammy Griffith, told commissioners the rate increases are pushing residents to move out of the state: “These constant water increases are just forcing people to move.” Griffith asked whether the district could reduce its minimum usage tier from 3,000 to 2,000 gallons to help customers; Dobbins and other staff said lowering the minimum would shift fixed costs and could increase the per‑unit price for all customers unless grant or subsidy funds covered the difference.
Commissioners debated whether to approve the originally proposed option A or the three‑step option B; after discussion a motion to approve options B (three‑step water increase) and C (sewer increase) was made and carried. Commissioners also asked staff to place a waiver of the county’s 45‑day posting period on the next agenda so the district can meet grant contract deadlines.
