The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - With Councilman K.C. Kuykendall in lone opposition, Waitsburg's City Council agreed to retain the City's current billing arrangement for multi-dwelling utility rates. The decision was in response to previous appeals by Keith Parkins who has converted the Preston Avenue inn into individual apartments and requested a rate break for multiple units sharing one meter.

Currently, individual consumers, including occupants of apartments, duplexes and trailers, pay a separate base rate for utilities as well as excess usage, whether or not they share a meter.

Councilman Kuykendall objected strongly to Councilwoman Callahan's opening statement that ongoing discussion was "beating a dead horse" (in light of the fact that the Council has already addressed this same issue several times in the past).

"This is an absolutely legitimate citizen request to have his fees commensurate with the services he's using," said Kuykendall. He expressed feeling that the City was "double dipping," especially in the case of units that are vacated but still pay the base fee. "We aren't paying extra for a meter reader and we're not spending any extra water. To me it's a no brainer. Can you give me any reason why it's taking more city services to satisfy this request? The answer is no." said Kuykendall.

City Clerk Hinchliffe explained that current residential rates include a base fee, which covers the privilege of service as well as 1,000 cubic feet of water use. Units are charged an overage for water used above the base amount. "Some homes use more than 1,000 cubic feet and some use less, but they all pay the same base rate," said Hinchliffe.

In the case of the apartments in question, Hinchliffe argued that there are four individual units hooked to the City system and they should be charged four base rates, regardless of whether or not they share the same meter.

Callahan asked why the residences didn't have individual meters and Hinchliffe explained that it was because the building is so old that it predates the individual meter requirement. Mayor Pro-Tem Dunn said that an easy way around the problem would be to require separate meters for each unit but that it would be costly. Installation is $350 for each meter to be set at the base with the remainder of hookup becoming the property owner's expense.

Kuykendall maintained that it is most fair to charge for usage only and he would like the policy modified so that city-wide, patrons are charged per meter and per gallon only. Hinchliffe explained that such a change would result in the loss of thousands of dollars in City revenue each month. "One trailer park has 18 units fed off one meter, the other has six units, Wheatlands has 12 units and there is another apartment with five units. The list goes on and on," said Hinchliffe. "If you start messing with revenues it's going to work like taxes. You might allow an exemption for one person, but that amount shifts to someone else and the single meter residences will end up with a higher rate," he said.

Kuykendall's motion to modify multi dwelling utility rates failed due to lack of a second from another member of the council.