City OKs big boost in water connections

If you are not already connected to the city of White Salmon's water system, your costs to do so just went up.

On the evening of July 1, following a public hearing and discussion among members of the White Salmon City Council, the council unanimously approved a substantial increase in charges for hooking up to the city's water system.

According to Public Works Director Mike Wellman, the fee increase was necessary to recoup costs to the city to maintain and expand the water infrastructure system.

"We've arrived at some rates we think are reasonable estimates of what our system development costs might be, so existing customers would not be subsidizing new customers," Wellman explained.

Wellman added the new fees "realistically represented" the "buy-in costs" for users of the water system.

Wellman suggested that the city adopt the new connection fees based on a formula that worked out to be "actual costs plus 17 percent," he explained.

The new prices go into effect 30 days after the new ordinance is published in the newspaper of record, meaning the prices will be in effect in mid-August.

The new rates, which apply to residential, commercial, and industrial connections, will be as follows:

For a 3/4 inch water meter: $5,286.86 (within White Salmon city limits); $7,464.36 (outside city limits) -- (the current charges are $2,400 and $3,360, respectively);

One inch meter: $7,705.25 (inside); $9,882.75 (outside) -- (currently: $4,002 and $5,602);

One and 1/2 inch meter : $14,614.94 (inside); $16,792.44 (outside) -- (currently $6,227 and $12,329);

Two inch meter: $24,288.50 (inside); $26,466.00 (outside) -- (currently $15,050 and $21,070);

Three inch meter: $51,927.24 (inside); $54,104.74 (outside);

Four inch meter: $91,165.86 (inside); $93,887.74 (outside) -- (currently $60,200 and $84,280);

Six inch meter: $202,265.22 (inside); $205,531.47 (outside).

"As we get growth into the future, we need to address the infrastructure needs that will follow," Wellman explained. "We need to make sure we generate enough money with new customers to handle testing, fire flow, repairs, etc. These prices are reasonable and necessary."

An excerpt of the newly approved ordinance reads as follows: "Whereas the current rate schedule for hookup charges, including impact fees, connection fees, and installation costs, does not reflect the current costs and should be increased ... the city deems it to be in the best interest of the city that connection rates be adjusted to reflect current cost estimates."

Wellman added he wanted to see the city revisit the connection fees and installation costs every year so they can be adjusted to meet changing conditions.

One of the comments from the crowd of about 10 who attended the hearing meeting came from Darlene Johnson, who is running for a seat on the City Council. Johnson said she thought the fees needed to be even higher.

"We haven't yet procured new water rights, and the cost of those water rights should be included in these costs," Johnson said.

Wellman said there was not likely to be any charge for new water rights, but added that the new rates would adequately reflect the costs to maintain and upgrade the city's overall water infrastructure system.

Council member Brad Roberts made the motion to support the new impact fees, and the motion passed with a 4-0 vote.