Water rates in the Forest Hills Subdivision will be going up to match the rates paid by other customers outside city limits.
City board members approved the first reading of Ordinance 18-08 on April 17, which will bring the water rates for East-Side Rural Water District, which encompasses the Forest Hills Subdivision, up from $6 for the first 1,000 gallons of water to $27.16 for the first 1,000 gallons.
The East-Side Rural Water District was created when the subdivision was developed in 2007, according to Steve Gorszcyzyk, public works director. The subdivision is located about three miles east of the city near Bill Young Road. Since the city did not have a water line in the vicinity, city officials agreed to purchase water from the Benton-Washington County Regional Public Water Authority, also known as Two-Ton, and sell it to customers in the subdivision, Gorszcyzyk said.
The city is responsible for maintaining all the water lines, customer water meters and fire hydrants in the subdivision beyond the Two-Ton master meter, Gorszcyzyk said. The city is not responsible for sewer or trash pickup in the subdivision.
"I wanted to figure out a feasible solution to increasing rates but not making it as dramatic," he said. "Unfortunately its been so many years that we have rates in East-Side Rural at $6.27, which initially started out at $6 (in 2007), so it's only increased $0.27 in 11 years, whereas outside the city rates were $5.12 in 2007 and have increased to $27.16."
Gorszcyzyk said that a letter about the increase was sent to all residents of the subdivision on March 20. He reported that he has not heard any negative or positive comments regarding the rate increase.
City administrator Phillip Patterson said the separate water district was created because the subdivision is the only area where the city purchases water from an outside source, then sells it back to the customers. Because the rates for the East-Side Water District were buried in a different section of code than the other water rates, they did not go up with the other rates, he explained.
"They've had great rates over the past 10 years, compared to in city and specifically out of city rates, but what we're trying to do is correct that issue today," he said.
In other business, city board members passed the second and final reading of Ordinance 18-07, giving the residents of 505 E. Helena 90 days to find another solution to sleeping in their recreational vehicle to avoid the black mold in the second story of their home.
Bill Parker applied for a permit to allow this family to sleep in the RV last month. Two years ago, a storm damaged the second story of the home, causing a leak that turned into a black mold problem.
The planning commission reviewed the permit application in March, and approved it against the recommendation of city staff, with the stipulation that the family must remove the RV from the property within 180 days after the permit is approved.
At their April 2 meeting, city board members voted to pass the ordinance on to its second reading without making a decision to give the Parker family more time to come up with a concrete action plan. Because it is not a matter of public concern, state law does not require three readings of the ordinance, but city law does require two, so the ordinance could be passed in its final form on April 17, according to city attorney Jay C. Williams.
On April 17, Dr. Bud Meehan spoke on behalf of the Parker family. In addition to being a physician, Meehan said he is also involved in a real estate investment company. He has been working with the Parker family to help them find a buyer for their home, but repair costs are so high that it is not a feasible investment for most buyers, he said.
"The timeline shows we have not been lazy and had diligence on this matter," Meehan said. "We are trying to find a way for the Parkers to exit this property with some dignity, even if that means signing the property back over to the bank."
He explained that the mold is in the roof of the second story bedrooms. The family keeps the door to the second story closed and sealed off, and uses the first story for meals and bathing. The RV is only used for sleeping and does not have any sewer hookups, he said.
Director Amy Smith asked why the family doesn't sleep downstairs if the downstairs is usable.
"You'd have to visit the downstairs and visit the property to understand, its just not feasible at this time," Meehan said.
Meehan said that the Parker family has received bank financing to purchase another home and is looking for the right property. He estimated the process will take about three months.
Application for TAP grant
The city board took the following additional actions:
• Approved hiring CR Crawford Construction, LLC to manage the construction of Fire Station No. 2.
• Approved the third reading of Ordinance 18-06 amending municipal electrical code.
• Approved Resolution 15-18 authorizing city officials to apply for a Transportation Alternatives Program Grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation for a 13,000-foot section of trail on North Hico Street.
General News on 04/25/2018