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Council debates raising construction-water fees as haulers log sustained usage
Summary
Council members discussed whether to increase construction (non‑potable) water fees after staff reported heavy contractor usage and sample bills that rose sharply; staff said a new automated pay station will be installed in January and any fee change would require a 90‑day process and a public notice.
Councilors discussed possible increases to construction‑water fees during a Nov. 12 “discussion only” item after complaints about frequent heavy hauling to Holbrook’s construction water well.
Councilmember Teo (initiating the item) said residents had reported multiple tanker trucks lining up to fill daily. Manager Sullivan and staff explained the current operations: contractors open accounts, post deposits, log water withdrawals, and staff create bills from the logs. Staff acknowledged the system is partially an honor system and said subcontractor haulers and contractors are keeping daily logs to verify volumes.
Sullivan told the council that, because usage has increased, recent sample bills moved from a small prior bill ($141 shown in the packet) to a later bill of over $10,000 for a long-running project. Staff also described a new pay station that was ordered and should be operational in January; once installed customers will prepay and log in to the machine, which will automate billing and reduce manual tracking.
Council discussion focused on whether construction water — which is drawn from a separate non‑potable well and is not chlorinated — should be charged at a higher rate than potable water, and whether an increased charge would be fair to smaller contractors. Staff reminded the council that changing rates requires posting a notice of intent and a roughly 90‑day process before new rates would take effect.
No decision was made; staff said they would return with firm recommendations and cost/implementation details for council consideration at a subsequent meeting.
