Town of Plattsburgh water rates go up

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March 25, 2011

Town boosts charge as department looks at current, future costs

DAN HEATH Press-Republican The Press Republican Fri Mar 25, 2011, 06:41 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — The Town of Plattsburgh has raised water rates for its two water districts.

The usage rate for the Greater Town of Plattsburgh Consolidated Water District and Base Water District has increased from $1.23 to $1.41 per 1,000 gallons. The minimum flat rate per quarter has gone from $16 to $20.

The usage fee is added to the base fee if a customer uses more than 7,000 gallons.

The increase, effective April 1, covers the period of service since the previous billing date.

WATER TOWER

The increases, said Town Supervisor Bernie Bassett, are needed to continue to maintain the level of service and address the town's aging infrastructure.

"We've been looking at that for a very long time," he said.

While most of that infrastructure is underground, Bassett said, it is readily apparent the water tower on Hammond Lane needs to be painted. That project is expected to cost several hundred thousand dollars.

The town is also concerned it may need an additional water tower as it continues to grow.

"That's a million-dollar project," the supervisor said.

FUTURE NEEDS

About 12,000 customers are connected to town water lines.

"We took a look at current and future needs but also want to make sure our homeowners get a good rate."

The rate was determined based on full-cost pricing. That method uses past and future operations, maintenance and capital costs.

Department expenses include maintenance, utilities, salaries and benefits, equipment costs, monitoring and testing, chemicals, rent, insurance, professional services, training, billing, security and waste disposal.

COMPARISONS

The rates are lower than most other municipalities, town officials say.

A Power Point presentation at an earlier meeting by town Water and Wastewater Director Scott Stoddard showed the minimum fixed quarterly rates for the Village of Keeseville are $51.25 for up to 9,000 gallons. A usage fee of $3.75 per 1,000 gallons is added for those who use more than 9,000 gallons.

In the City of Plattsburgh, the minimum rate starts at $10.40 and increases depending on meter size. The monthly usage rate is $5.18 per 1,000 gallons for the first 2,000 gallons and $4.11 per 1,000 for the next 14,000 gallons.

Peru Water District has a $52 minimum fixed quarterly rate for up to 6,000 gallons and a usage fee of $3.75 per 1,000 gallons added for more than that.

STORM SESSION

The resolution to raise the rates was passed at the March 7 Town Council meeting, held even though the Town Offices were closed that day and Clinton County was under a state of emergency due to a severe snowstorm.

Bassett said the council members decided to hold the meeting because the weather had sufficiently cleared to do so. And while the town did close the Town Offices that day, it never canceled the regularly scheduled meeting.

The water-rate increase resolution was part of the scheduled agenda, Bassett said.

No one from the public attended the session.

HONORS

The town was recently informed by the New York Rural Water Association that it has been selected to receive the 2011 Water System of the Year Award at the association's 32nd-annual Technical Conference, to be held in May in Saratoga Springs. Bassett said that is a credit to the Water Department staff, including former Director David Comfort, and shows investing in the water system is money well spent.

"We want to stay at this level," he said.

Email Dan Heath at:

dheath@pressrepublican.com