Whitefish proposes water and sewer rate increases

The city of Whitefish intends to raise water and sewer rates and the City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 5, to allow citizens to weigh in on the proposal.

The proposed sewer rate increase is the biggest. Monthly rates would increase nearly 13 percent, or just over $5 a month, from $39.57 to $44.66 for customers inside city limits with a 5/8-inch meter and usage of 4,000 gallons.

Water rates would bump up 0.74 percent, roughly 30 cents a month to $41.08.

Customers with a landscape/irrigation meter with usage of 10,000 gallons per month will see their bill increase 4.9 percent, or about $2, from $40.80 to $42.80.

A cost-of-service analysis was completed by an outside consulting firm to measure the cost attributable to each use class against the amount of revenue provided by each user class. The study showed that irrigation water users aren’t generating revenue in line with the cost of service of provided that water use. This result was anticipated, Whitefish Public Works Director Craig Workman said in his report to the council.

Water users in high-pressure zone areas also are not generating revenue adequate to cover the cost or providing service, the analysis showed.

Last year the City Council approved water, sewer and irrigation rate increases in what is expected to be a multi-year rate-increase structure. A rate study completed in 2015 recommended increasing water rates by 3.6 percent over five years, but it’s the sewer rates that are on track to increase substantially over the next decade to position the city to pay for a new wastewater treatment plant that is being mandated by the state Department of Environmental Quality. The new plant is projected to be built in 2021 and will cost upwards of $20 million.

The council will hold a work session from 5 to 5:30 p.m. to talk about a request from Bill Kahle on behalf of North Valley Hospital regarding property at 1315 Columbia Ave.

The council will hold closed executive sessions from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

The regular meeting begins at 7:10 p.m. at Whitefish City Hall.

For more information, visit http://www.cityofwhitefish.org.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.