The town had requested a significant increase to its water rates in order to cover off a deficit.
After hearing from homeowners in Fifth Avenue Estates, the public utilities board has decided to raise the rates in stages. So the average quarterly bill will go from around $50 to $93 come April and then up to $102 next January. Mayor Greg Fehr thinks it's a good compromise between keeping the utility self-sufficient and listening to the concerns of ratepayers. He adds in the future council will communicate more with homeowners and review the rates on a more regular basis so people don't see these large increases to make up for a couple of years of deficit.