Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Scofield hearing advances plan to raise water rates to qualify for emergency funding
Summary
Town officials discussed a proposal from the Rural Water Association of Utah to raise the base water rate from $23 to $35 and adopt multi-year increases so Scofield can qualify for emergency funding; the council closed the public hearing and recorded Ordinance 02-2026 for later amendment and passage.
Scofield town leaders discussed a plan to increase water user rates and closed a public hearing on the proposal during their Feb. 9 meeting.
Janell Braithwaite of the Rural Water Association of Utah (RWAU) summarized a recommendation presented at the previous meeting that the town raise its base monthly water rate from $23.00 to $35.00, apply a 2.5% increase on the base annually for seven years and raise tier rates by $0.25 each year for seven years. According to the minutes, Braithwaite said that approach would help the town qualify for Rural Water emergency funding but that the town would not qualify for USDA funding because USDA eligibility in this case would require higher monthly rates paid by property owners.
Mayor Jim Levanger noted that most of the town’s water lines are more than 40 years old and suggested setting some of the additional revenue aside in a fund separate from the water and sewer utility account to cover emergencies or capital replacements. The minutes record discussion among council members about the dollar amounts and timing of increases but do not include verbatim exchanges.
The minutes record that 'Ordinance 02-2026' was signed and that the council plans to pass it with an amendment at a later date; the ordinance text and amendment language were not included in the minutes. Councilmember Meliss Holloway moved to close the hearing; Ralph Brinkerhoff seconded, and the minutes state that all were in favor. The hearing was closed at 6:55 p.m.
Next steps recorded in the minutes: the council will return with an amended ordinance for formal consideration and a vote. The minutes do not specify the amendment language, a timeline for the next hearing, or a roll-call vote for Ordinance 02-2026 at this meeting.
