Whitefish considers water and sewer rate increases
A proposal to raise water and sewer rates by nearly $5 a month for an average household will be discussed at a public hearing Tuesday before the Whitefish City Council.
Water rates would increase by 1 percent, or about 25 cents, from $40.53 to $40.78 for households using 4,000 gallons per month. Sewer rates would increase 13 percent, or $4.53 for the same level of use, from $35.04 to $39.57.
The city has a plan to change the low-income and senior discount from an age-based system to an income verification system. The city currently provides a 75 percent discount on the monthly fixed base rate charges, but not the volume charges for water use by elderly and low-income residents.
The proposed change will use the federal Low Income Energy Assistance Program application process to verify eligibility, according to City Manager Chuck Stearns’ council report.
Currently there are 418 participants on the low-income and senior discount list, and only 15 are known to qualify for the assistance program. If none of the additional 403 residents qualified for the income means test, the city would raise about $171,000 in additional annual revenue, Stearns said.
The city faces $17.49 million of improvements in its wastewater treatment plant starting in 2021 to fully comply with the requirements of the state’s discharge permit.
Whitefish has 3,250 residential water customers and 320 commercial customers within city limits, as well as 68 residential and seven commercial customers outside the city. Sewer service is provided to 3,530 customers in-city and 106 outside city limits.
Two other public hearings are planned:
n Tanner Babcock is asking for a conditional-use permit to build a second primary residence at 26 O’Brien Ave. Both the city Planning and Building Department and Planning Board have recommended approval of the permit.
n An ordinance rezoning 4.14 acres of land from county residential to city suburban residential will be considered for property along U.S. 93 W. Robert W. Pero Revocable Trust and Janen M. Pero are asking for the zone change.
The council will hear an update on the City Hall/parking structure construction project from owner’s representative Mike Cronquist.
At a work session that begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday will review and possibly authorize the next annexation effort in the Ramsey Avenue area.
The regular council meeting begins at 7:10 p.m.; both meetings are at the interim City Hall, 1005 Baker Ave. The meetings are on Tuesday because of the Labor Day holiday.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.