Bicknell schedules public hearing on proposed $16.25 monthly irrigation fee

Unidentified Speaker 1 (town council member) told the council the town is proposing to change its irrigation ordinance from an acreage/quarterly model to a flat monthly fee. "Anyway So this new proposed is $16.25 a month, which sounds like a lot," Unidentified Speaker 1 said during the meeting.

Council members debated fairness and how the charge would apply to residents who own multiple water shares but may not use them. Unidentified Speaker 6 explained the town's responsibility and the rationale for the fee: "All it has to do with is our pipes. ... So that's all we're charging people for is access to the pressurized..." The discussion emphasized that the proposed charge covers maintenance and repairs to the pressurized distribution system rather than actual water usage or private water shares.

Council members reviewed recent irrigation fund numbers. Staff reported irrigation fund cash of approximately $60,000 and noted the town has spent for pumps and repairs this year. The council discussed alternatives, including per-share billing, per-use charges and whether Fremont Irrigation or other upstream owners were using water that would affect local costs.

To allow public input before a final decision, the council agreed to schedule a public hearing. Unidentified Speaker 1 said, "So we'll schedule a public hearing for that on what is that date? April the 24th." The hearing will be advertised per the town's notice rules and is expected to precede either ordinance approval or further revisions.

Next steps: council members were asked to review the drafted irrigation ordinance and the fee schedule before the hearing so staff can publish required notices and present the ordinance and fee options at the April meeting.