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Perhaps the biggest news in Statham in 2009 centered around water – its rates and its tastes.
"The [community] has had a hard time paying what we’ve got now," Council member Betty Lyle said, saying that there are many people living on fixed incomes in Statham who would have a hard time adjusting to a cost increase. Additionally, she pointed out, many elderly people have far less trash than families, and to make them pay the same seemed unfair.
This would lead to more and more service cutoffs, she argued.
The Statham City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday evening to increase water, sewer and garbage rates, effective immediately.
The rate increase is meant to repay Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) water/sewer loans.
Snodon Management Consultants was asked to propose recommendations to address the shortfall in funds pertaining to the GEFA payments.
"Some time ago, the City of Statham borrowed funds from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority for certain sewer improvements," consultant Ernie Graham wrote in a letter to the council.
"That project is now complete and monthly payments in the amount of $17,000 per month or $204,000 annually will begin in the near future.
"Given the lack of growth [in Statham], the only source of revenue is monthly charges to the existing customer base. Unfortunately to raise the $204,000 needed to annually cover these new payments, [it] will require an overall increase of revenues of approximately 31 percent," Graham wrote.
This will only generate enough money to cover the loan repayment.
Graham praised the city for the way it cut operating expenses during the economic downturn.
The city has not raised water/sewer rates since 2001 or garbage rates since 2004.
According to Graham, "for the largest group of water customers (residential, inside the city), the average water bill will increase by $7.29 per month, while for small users [those using the minimum amount] will increase by $4 per month. Average residential sewer bills inside the city will increase by $6.64 per month by only $3 for small users. Garbage rates will increase $3 per month for all users with an additional $7.50 per month for customers with additional cans or carts."
The city has had some issues with its water in the fall, after the heavy rains. Organics and sediment got into the system, and while the city proceeded to flush its pipes, many residents complained about foul odors and a bad taste when they ran their taps.
Residents had attended past council meetings, and even November’s candidate forum, to ask about the water situation.
The organics in the water had to first be taken care of at the plant, and would then push the organics-free water out into the city. Despite the odd smell and taste, the water was not harmful to consumers, city officials said.
The city worked with the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure its safety, Director of Public Works Tim Powell told attendees at the candidate forum. "We’re working hard to get it out," he said.
Bridges said the water problem was under control, and that if a situation with lots of rain ever came about again, the city would know to work faster to address the problem.
In an effort to curb budget costs, the council did not approve a 3 percent pay increase requested by Police Chief Roger Tripp for two of his employees.
The Statham City Council also proved to be most popular during the November elections, when eight people qualified for the three available positions.
Incumbents Lyle and Gayle Steed were re-elected and newcomer David Huth won the seat vacated by Edna Jackson, who did not seek re-election.
