PRINT
E-MAIL STORY
NEWSLETTER SIGN UPlpanter@barrowcountynews.com
With the state of Georgia declaring the drought over, people broke out their hoses, filled up their kiddie pools and tried to reclaim the grass that had suffered from years of watering restrictions. Water worries have decreased for many residences and businesses.
Despite this, the City of Winder, which operates and supplies water and wastewater to much of the county, still continues to look forward with its water and wastewater needs.
Until August 3, the City is seeking proposals from qualified consulting firms to prepare a water and wastewater rate and fee schedule.
Despite seeking the study, City Administrator Bob Beck said that it doesn’t mean the City is planning to increase its fees for customers.
In late June, Winder Mayor Chip Thompson told the Barrow County News that the City has an interesting position as it has a business — supplying water to much of the county — and yet, it must look out for its citizens.
That is why the study is coming in to play. Rather than end up having to drastically increase fees in five or six years, the study will assess what is needed to do to keep the system working without hurting its customers.
The study and its results would not affect the 2010 budget. Instead, any changes made to fees would probably be reflected in the 2011 budget.
However, Beck said the City has considered the current economic crisis in its decisions regarding fee increases.
Oftentimes, a knee jerk reaction is to raise fees when revenues are down. Due to water restrictions, the amount of water used in recent years has already dwindled some.
Next year, he said, if the economy was still slow, the City would reassess if it could hold off another year without raising fees.When people are being laid off and financial situations are dire, Beck said the City needs to be prepared to help those it serves in the county.
Beck said one question posed is that when growth occurs, expansion is needed.
But who pays for that? The customers who are already using water, or those who are influencing the expansion?
Many cities have capacity or tap fees that they use to offset the cost of expansions, Beck said.
For Winder, tap fees through the end of June have come to $345,198. There have been 195 fees: 152 residential and 43 commercial.There have been 20 move meter fees — $250 each, 80 $3,500 water tap fees and 31 sewer tap fees in the City, resulting in $108,500.
In the County, there have been 24 sewer tap fees, which amounts to $108,000.
