The Mineral County Board of Commissioners held two public hearings at its Jan. 3 meeting regarding the proposed rate increases for the Hawthorne, Mina, and Luning water systems. Hawthorne Utilities Manager Ana Conway shared some data regarding the operating expenses that have prompted the need for more funds coming in, and requested a two percent increase for the Mina/Luning water system, a three percent increase for the Hawthorne water system, and a five cent increase on Hawthorne’s sewage operations.
During the first public hearing at 10 a.m., commissioners and Mineral County staff discussed the water rates at the army base and the cost of hooking up water connections at stagnant properties.
Public Works Director Eric Hamrey asked why the parks department could not get lower water rates on par with the army depot’s, and Conway brought up the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between the county and the army base in which the two entities negotiated on a rate contingent on mutual aid. Commissioner Larry Grant said that the base is maintaining their own water lines and the county maintains the parks, so if the utility rates were lowered for the parks then the loss of revenue would have to be made up by the residents. Commissioner Grant spoke about the employees at the base and how a water rate increase could affect their jobs; the county’s district attorney Jaren Stanton then suggested maybe coming up with a five or ten-year plan that could show gradual rate increases.
The utilities department had proposed increasing the fee for reestablishing a water connection that had been out of use for seven years, and provided information about how much that costs the county for restoring those hook-ups. Conway said that the utilities department could allow those customers to just pay the water capacity fee if they have a working meter. One local resident said that people already incur a lot of costs in buying a property and cleaning it up, and then expensive water hookup fees are presented. Conway said that buyers should check their paperwork to see how long the property has been without water, and factor extra costs into reestablishing that hook up if it’s been longer than seven years.
Commissioner Curtis Schlepp said that he likes the idea of just charging property owners the CAP (Water Capacity) fees as long as they have a working meter, and then the discussion was tabled until the next public hearing scheduled at 5:30 p.m. that same day.
At the afternoon public hearing, the proposed rate increases came up again and issues regarding where Mineral County meeting agenda notices were posted and the history of water/sewage rates in the area. One resident expressed his concern about his water rates being raised to his limit without any increase in his wages. Commissioner Schlepp and Conway responded by saying that perhaps the proposed water rates were not high enough but that the USDA was allowing the county to raise rates in smaller intervals.
Commissioner Grant- who was the former utilities director for Mineral County- said that rate increases help build the infrastructure allowing its residents to comfortably live in town and that every one million gallons used is equal to a $600 increase in a water bill. He believes in rate increases but not at catastrophic levels. “If the county keeps pumping water at these rates, equipment will break,” reads the meeting notes.
The army base’s water rates were further discussed, along with implementing a flat $1,300 CAP fee for water being restored to properties with working meters.
Commissioner Grant said that Mineral County’s sewer system is operating at a loss, many dumpsters need to be replaced, and the county needs to buy a new garbage truck.
Following the public hearing, the commissioner agreed to approve:
• Resolution 23-001 for a three percent rate increase to maintain Hawthorne’s water system as well as a five percent increase for the base intertie waterline
• Resolution 23-002 regarding the adoption of a two percent increase for the Mina/Luning Water System
• Resolution 23-003 unanimously supported by the board for a 25-cent increase to go towards the Hawthorne garbage department
• Resolution 23-004 unanimously supported for an eight-cent increase to maintain the Hawthorne Wastewater System
• To keep the water reconnection fee at $1,300 if the meter is still functional and doesn’t need to be replaced. The CAP fees for businesses is based on Supply Fixture Units and ranges from $1,000-$3,300 for installation; new establishments are determined on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the utilities director.
There was also some talk of the utilities department wanting to replace the freshwater tanks that were damaged in last December’s windstorms, but not having enough money to cover that. However, Utilities Director Tom Carrigan could not be reached for comment to talk about its next steps.
