By Tom Mark

Water Rate Restructuring In Armstrong

Jul 11, 2018 | 6:19 AM

Armstrong Council is moving ahead with restructuring the city’s water and sewer rates.

The city held two open houses in May and June to explain why rates are going up.

Mayor Chris Pieper says both were well-attended and residents many residents had input.

“I think the main concern was the rate increases and they also respected the need for improved infrastructures.”

Generally, residents were encouraged that the City was taking proactive measures to ensure quality drinking water and reliable sewer services for the
short and long terms.

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” We have aging infrastructure and we have to upgrade some things, so with increased fees and the opportunity for grants that are available we hope to keep fees at a minimum but they will definitely be going up.”

He’s not certain how much.

It’s been about ten years since parcel taxes were in place.

Those have been taken off the property tax bill and rates will be on utility billings.

The parcel taxes indicated the money needed for infrastructure going ahead.

The plan is increases over the next five years but he hopes to moderate them as much as possible.

The Mayor says the main concern is to address the issue of turbidity in the water in the Spring as well as ensuring there is enough water going forward.

That comes down to more storage or more well capacity.

by Tom Mark