Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Emmet Residents Petition Against New Water System

Emmet residents are still upset about the recent increase in their water rates.

A petition with 172 city residents, and 10 from outside the city limits, but are on city water, was presented to the Emmet City Council at its regular monthly meeting Thursday evening, July 9.

The petition was presented to the council by J.W. Casto, who said the people oppose the new proposed water system, stating it isn't justified without another well or alternate water source for the residents.

Emmet Mayor Ottis "Chuck" Otwell accepted the petition, telling those on hand he did have an agreement for another well, but it was a gentlemen's agreement and not in writing. However, he said, the owner of the well changed his mind about letting the city use it.

Otwell said at the June meeting former Emmet Mayor Dale Booker called the proposed system poorly designed. This, according to Otwell, has caused a good deal of controversy in town, though the system is needed.

The council, he told the people, could turn back now, forget the water system and still have to pay all the engineer fees. But, he added, Emmet would also still have problems with the current system because of the mismatched pipes used in its construction.

The existing system, he said, leaks and erodes road beds, thereby damaging Emmet's streets.

The average lifespan of galvanized water pipe is about 30 years, with the existing system having been in place for 36 years.

"The people have been misinformed by Dale Booker," he said, "on the design of the system."

When the engineers designed the system, fire hydrants were to be put so no building in the town would be more than 500 feet away.

According to Otwell, the new system won't lower the insurance rates of the people enough to offset the cost of the water rate increases.

He pointed out the state has been telling the city council the rates were too low for years, but the council didn't increase water rates because of those in the area on fixed incomes. The city was able to operate and maintain the system on the old rate.

However, when it was decided to get a new water system, the federal lending agencies involved told the council what the rates would have to be in order for the city to pay the loan back.

Otwell said the rate given is a good one. Residents pay $9 for the first 1,000 gallons of water used, with the rate increasing based on the amount of water used. Had the city gone up on the rates regularly, as requested, he said, there would have been reserve money in the water department budget.

But, there wouldn't have been enough funds to pay back the loan from the Rural Development group.

The total project will cost approximately $828,000, with all of the money to be used strictly for the water project.

Jack Faulkner, a member of the council, said people have complained the city let them run out of water, but now they are trying to stop a water system which would prevent this from happening again.

Otwell said the city will drill a second well, and do it as inexpensively as possible. The city does have the funds for such a project, he informed the council and audience.

Casto said the people are upset because the new rate is so high, and the rate is inconsistent.

Councilman Rene Sells said those who signed the petition weren't at the meeting and were, instead, at home. She asked Casto specifically what those who signed the petition wanted the council to do.

He said they wanted lower rates. Casto informed the council when he was circulating the petition, he didn't ask the citizenry if they had alternate plan. "I brought the petition to you, now it's your job," he said. "No one made any proposals."

Otwell said the new rate is the lowest the city will get and be able to pay back the loan. The $828,000 check was nothing more than a promotional stunt from the government. The city had to pass an ordinance agreeing to pay back the loan, or the grant money couldn't have been obtained.

He reminded those present a public hearing was held in 1997 when the project was discussed and the grant and loan approved, but few people attended.

The rate, he continued, is based on the number of customers on the system. If the city experiences growth and more people get hooked onto the water line, the rate can be reduced by the lending agency.

"There's no choice with the rates except to stop the project," he said. "I don't know what the legal repercussion would be or what fees the city would have to pay (if this were done)."

It would help, Otwell said, if those people spreading negative information about the system would spread good news instead.

The city, he continued, will work on drilling a new water well. The water table in the area is higher than it's been in 20-25 years, he said. In addition, Otwell said he would attempt to talk with those who signed the petition to see what they want done.

Casto said part of the problem is the people weren't properly informed, and were upset when their water bills increased so much.

It was agreed a public meeting will be held at a later date at the Emmet School gymnasium to discuss the water project and rates.

Otwell said the city was a month late in beginning to collect the new rate as it was, and was informed by the city's attorney, Glenn Vasser, none of the project funds would be released until the city began collecting the new rate.

Bids for the project are scheduled to be opened Tuesday, July 21. However, before this is done, the city must get an easement signed by Arkla Gas Co. and condemn two sections of private property.

There are two residents the city has not been able to contact to see if they would sign an easement agreement for the project. Otwell said Emmet got off light by only having to condemn two pieces of property.