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Kinderhook board adopts resolution to raise out-of-village water rates to $8 per 1,000 gallons
Summary
The Village Board adopted Resolution No. 1 of 2025 to incrementally raise water rates for 17 out-of-village users to reach $8 per 1,000 gallons, aligning billing with village code §125-19; the board approved the measure unanimously on March 12, 2025.
The Kinderhook Village Board on March 12 adopted Resolution No. 1 of 2025 to adjust water rates for customers who live outside village boundaries, moving those accounts incrementally toward a rate equal to double in-village charges.
Trustee James Mark Browne introduced the resolution, noting the change corrects a longstanding billing discrepancy that arose after a 2013 billing-software transition and rate adjustments in 2023. The resolution directs an increase of $0.50 per 1,000 gallons each billing cycle “until such time as it equals double the current in village rate, equal to $8 per 1000 gallons, pursuant to Village of Kinderhook code section 125-19.” The board recorded that 17 households will be affected and discussed options to phase the increase to avoid undue hardship; with two billings per year the board said it expects the change to take roughly three years to reach the full rate.
The motion was made by Trustee James Mark Browne and seconded by Mayor Dorene Weir. The minutes record "Aye" votes from Mayor Dorene Weir, Trustee James Mark Browne, Trustee Susan Patterson, Trustee Quinn Murphy and Trustee T. Kevin Monahan; no "No" votes were recorded and the resolution was declared adopted. Clerk Nicole H. Heeder attested to the action and the board agreed to notify affected users in the October water bills about the phased increase.
The resolution cites Village of Kinderhook code §125-19, which requires that water rates for properties outside village boundaries be double those charged to users within the village unless the Board approves otherwise. The board discussed that one alternative would be to change the code or to impose the full increase in a single billing, but Trustees said that approach would create undue hardship for some users and recommended the phased approach.
