Water works become source of contention
By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer
New watering holes are springing up in
Hailey’s alleys, and city government is responsible for the trend. As crews dig
up alleyways to make room for water meter vaults by day, by suppertime residents
can be seen standing around the latest excavation site discussing the pros and
cons of the project designed to help the city monitor water use and eventually
charge accordingly.
Any unfinished holes left open for
completion the next day have become the latest place to meet and shoot the
breeze. Much like employees gathering at the water cooler, conversation bounces
from the benefits of galvanized pipe versus copper pipe versus PVC, to the
impact of the project on sprinkler systems, and guesses about what utility rates
might become once the water meters are finally installed and bills are
submitted.
Mayor Susan McBryant opened Monday’s
regular city council meeting to address complaints some residents have voiced
about the project.
"Water pressure issues are related to
growth and consumption," she said, expressing concern about complaints from a
"small group of citizens" who blame the meter vault project for the apparent
drop in water pressure.
Bryant said the city had followed
"prescribed means" for notifying the public about the possible problems related
to the project at innumerable public meetings.
The plan is that a new water tank to be
installed next summer, which will be the second storage tank in the city, will
help mitigate the drop in pressure happening now.
Residents must learn to conserve and
observe the "odd and even" day watering restrictions the city has already
implemented, said McBryant.
Complaints about water pressure may be a
short-term issue as the city works to change the water system. However, even
with a new storage tank, it may be that sprinkler systems designed for a
particular flow rate may not function as they were designed. Some sprinkler
systems on property with new vaults appear not to be functioning as intended.
In related business, Tom Hellen
recommended that the council consider a 7 percent sewer rate hike of $1.61 from
$22.95 per month to $24.56 per month as a component of next year’s city budget.
A formal public hearing on the proposed city budget is scheduled at the regular
city council meeting Aug. 18. The suggested increase beginning in fiscal year
2003-2004 would help reduce the sticker shock of big jumps in utility fees
later, said Hellen.
The city acknowledges the wastewater
budget must increase three percent per year in any case to cover current
obligations.
"We were not collecting adequately for our
costs," said McBryant.
In other business, the council is
considering repealing the ordinance governing vendors’ off site business
licenses, with the exception of special events already scheduled on city
property. The goal is to curb the impact of "peddlers ... and transient
merchants" on the city’s "bricks and mortar businesses." City attorney Ned
Williamson is working on the revised ordinance.