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Residents urge fixes, debate bond vs. phased rates at Huntsville water hearing
Summary
At a Sept. 4 public hearing, speakers split between endorsing a $1.5M bond to fund immediate repairs and favoring phased rate increases without bonding; town engineers and the Water Board explained costs and risks.
During a public hearing on the town's water study, several residents urged the council to take decisive action to avoid a system failure, while others asked the town to consider alternatives that would rely less on debt.
Deb LaMarche told the council, “Water is critical. It seemed like the bond option was the only way to go. She thought it was important and was in favor of the rate increase.” Jeff Keeney asked the council to consider Option 3 — raising rates without issuing a bond — and Ron Gault responded that the no-bond option would likely cost more over time and carry greater risk. “This option would cost more overall and be more risky,” Gault said when asked about Option 3.
During the hearing Will VanderToolen pressed whether the $1.5 million would be sufficient. Gault said the bond proceeds would be directed first to replacing the pipeline on 1800 South and then toward treatment-plant components; budgeted water-fund dollars would continue to pay for ongoing leak repairs. When asked whether an 80% increase would go into reserves or toward debt, Gault and staff said the town's plan is to use budgeted funds for maintenance while structuring rate and debt service to restore reserves.
The hearing gave the council a range of resident input on affordability and system reliability as it moved to adopt the 80% increase later in the meeting.
