The City of Clymer approved the implementation of a meter fee for the water district in preparation for preparing payment for the planned major water system replacement. PJ photo by Sara Holthouse
CLYMER — There are some additional costs coming in for Clymer residents who are part of the city’s water district.
At the city’s November meeting, the addition of a meter fee was discussed as part of planning for the upcoming, much-needed water system replacement project that has begun.
“This is a newer thing for us, we’ve never really done this, this method at all, but given all the changes we’re facing in the water district, I thought it was appropriate that we try to set aside our own changes. budget, and have some kind of hearing of their own,” said City Supervisor Brian Willink.
Total current revenues to the city from sales, taxes and bulk sales on an annual basis are $69,550. The appropriation, or the amount the city is budgeting for, is $85,580, meaning the city is currently operating at a loss of $16,000 for the water system.
“So there are a lot of ways you can generate revenue from the water district,” Willink said. “Of course the main way is to let the water flow through the pipe, you can control that. What we’ve never really done is we now have a pipeline tax, so every linear foot of pipe that’s underground is taxed to the property owner that it goes under. So there is a tax on the system, but what we have never had, as far as I know, is a meter fee.”
Willink said many other water districts, not just locally but in many other districts, have a fee that gives people the right to tap into the water system and use the city’s water. Willink proposed this fee because of the upcoming water system upgrade project, which will cost the city approximately $10 million if completely replaced. The city currently has a $5 million grant and has applied for a few others, but because they aren’t sure how much grant money will come in and what the terms of those grants are, Willink said they are working on other options, such as the compensation. .
Willink added that the city, based on some rough numbers on the idea that the city’s water district would have a $2 million share of the $10 million project, based on a 30-year payback period at 0%, which is not something that is not guaranteed, looking at a solution. Annual payment of $66,000 just to cover the $2 million bond. The city is already facing a shortfall in the system, and Willink said at the current rate they wouldn’t get anywhere near that payment.
“I think we have to think about this step by step,” Willink said. “Since I don’t know exactly what the system will look like or how much we can bite off, I would propose a fee of $10 per meter per month, starting in May 2025.”
Willink would also like to see an increase in the rate over 40,000 gallons from $3.30 to $5 per 1,000 gallons. The current rate the city charges is $5.75 for all users, which Willink said is probably pretty close to where they need to be, but probably not enough.
Additionally, Willink said raising these rates and collecting a fee is likely the first phase of a multi-phase approach to raising some rates in the system.
“I hate to bite off more than we can chew, because we don’t know where exactly we’re going to end up with this thing, but we’re definitely going to have to raise some money, and we’re going to have to get it through the neighborhood.” bring order,” says Willink. “And we’re going to be cautious in our approach, which is why I think this is a good first step and we’ll see what we do next year after we’ve had another year to see where we are with the district. and see where we are with the subsidies, and find out where we are with all the other conditions.”
It was recognized that this system is of concern because it is old, and that the new system will impose enormous costs on the city which operates approximately 750 feet in the system. Willink said fortunately there is grant money available and the city can tap some of it because 230 users can’t hope to replace a $10 million system. It was discussed that even though these changes won’t go into effect until May due to the billing cycle, some people will be upset about the changes and the board will have to remind them that without these changes the other option is no water and there being looked at. how much does drilling a well cost.
“We might want to have that ready if someone brings that up because it will come up,” said Melissa Murphy, a council member.
Willink added that there are people in the water district who have their own wells and operate that way. The cost of new wells was discussed, along with state assistance programs that may exist for water users, and the fact that the city qualifies as a low-income community, which has already given them some subsidies. Also discussed was the prices charged by neighboring water districts, which were noted to be much higher than Clymer’s.
Both the introduction of the meter rate and the increase in the usage rate over 40,000 gallons were approved from May 1, 2025.
“Like I said, we’re entering uncharted territory on some of these things and we’re taking it as it comes,” Willink said. “But this is a good, conservative first step.”
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