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Council agrees to model water‑rate changes with consultant before any vote; well project funding remains concern
Summary
Mayor proposed a water‑rate restructure to raise the base fee and add higher tiers to build town reserves for infrastructure including a well and tank; council asked a consultant, Ben Corey, to run models and return figures before any rate change is proposed publicly.
Mayor presented a proposed revision to the town water rate structure intended to build local reserves to support capital needs, including the long‑running well project and potential future tank replacement. The draft raised the base fee (proposed $25 for the base allowance) and tightened per‑gallon tiers so rates would be higher for large users; the mayor said the change would help the town accumulate funds so it would not have to rely entirely on grants.
Council members were cautious. Ben Corey, who provided a rural water user study for the town, recommended an iterative meeting to test the numbers and targets before any public hearing or ordinance change. Council asked staff to schedule a data review with Corey — using three years of meter data — and to show comparative outcomes under the current and proposed schedules so the council can quantify who would bear rate increases and how much the town could save for capital projects.
No rate change was adopted; the council agreed to a consultant briefing and to keep the issue on the next agenda for public discussion. Members discussed the possibility of a near‑term base‑fee increase as an interim step but emphasized the need for transparent public outreach and an official ordinance process before rates change.
