Several Aberdeen residents used the public-comment period at the Dec. 10 city council meeting to press elected officials about rising utility costs and the impact on seniors and people with disabilities.

"If I'm not using $3.99, why do I pay $3.99?" said Sally Sheldon, who identified herself as a Ward 2 resident and described living on Social Security and a small pension. Sheldon said her monthly water use averages about 100 cubic feet but her bill jumps as if she were using higher tiers. "I'm paying way too much," she said.

Another resident, who gave her name as Holly, described multiple surgeries and a disability and said she is forced to choose between medicine and food. Holly told the council she believed the city is applying a tiered billing system that leaves low-usage customers facing large charges. "It's almost like the system is set up almost to make us not be able sometimes to make it," she said.

Council members did not debate rates during public comment but offered to meet with residents afterward to explain account options. Later in the meeting a staff member asked the council to repeal an EMS resolution adopted previously so staff could update municipal code language that, the staffer said, does not reflect state law. The staffer said they will work with the city attorney to research whether customers who have paid fees out of compliance should receive credits and noted possible statute-of-limitations constraints. "I'll be working with our attorney to figure out there is a statute of limitations that we will have to follow," the staffer said.

Mayor Morgan thanked speakers for raising the concerns and directed staff to return with findings. The council voted to repeal the existing EMS resolution and asked staff to report back in January with proposed next steps and any legal or financial implications for customers.

The meeting record shows no immediate change to rates; council direction was limited to having staff investigate the municipal-code issue and potential remedies.