Raceland ponders rate hike

By MIKE JAMES
The Independent

RACELAND September 05, 2008 05:47 pm

— Residents of Raceland are likely to face higher water bills soon.
The city council on Thursday discussed raising water rates to cover additional costs to the city, which has had its own rates raised.
In a special meeting, council member Charles Powell proposed a graduated series of rate hikes. Under the proposal, users of up to 4,999 gallons would pay an additional $3, users of up to 7,999 gallons would pay an additional $4.50, and those who use up to 10,499 gallons would pay an additional $6. The additional fee for users of up to 15,499 gallons would be $7.50 and $9 would be added to the bills of even larger users.
The rate hikes are necessary because the city now pays more for the water. Raceland doesn’t have a water treatment plant; it buys in bulk from Russell and Flatwoods. Russell, which does have a water plant, recently upped its bulk rates to the smaller towns it supplies.
The proposed hike will be difficult for residents, especially since the city recently enacted a $5 municipal fee, but necessary nonetheless, council member Sherry Chapman said. “We need to make up for our increase.”
Raceland’s hike “has to be passed on to the consumer. I hate it, too,” said council member Dana Williamson.
If enacted, the rate hike would be the first one in at least nine years, Clerk Ramona Barber said.
City Attorney James Lyon Jr. said he could have an ordinance ready for the council to vote on by Tuesday, the day of its next regular meeting. If the council approves the ordinance then, it would have to vote once more to make it official.
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2652.