Alpine
As Alpine residents get their utility bills this week, they may notice increases in their water and sewage rates that the City Council has been hashing out for months.
Increases of $4 to the city’s base water rate, $1.50 per 1,000 gallons to the usage rate, and $2 to the sewage rate were unanimously approved as part of a schedule of all city rates and fees during the July 21 regular city council meeting.
While the $4 and $1.50 increases are to the base rate and minimum usage, respectively, other rate and usage categories also saw increases. “So, there’s just not one,” said City Manager Henry Arredondo. “That’s why we posted the schedule on our website.” A full listing of the city rates and fees is now available on the City of Alpine website at www.cityofalpine.com.
The rate increases had been in the works for months, showing up on multiple council agendas, only to have a vote on the item postponed several times. The delay was due to council members “being very thorough, and they wanted to make the right decision. It is a hard decision,” said Mayor Catherine Eaves following a prior council meeting.
Arredondo said that the city has not received any negative feedback from the community regarding the rate increases.
Funds collected through the increased rates will help pay for repairs and improvements to the city’s water infrastructure, including the drilling of a replacement well for its Roberts Well #3, which failed this spring, triggering a Stage 4 Water Emergency.
“Utility rates have to go up. They’re lower than anywhere else that is comparable to us,” Eaves said. “We are well below. Utility rates have not gone up in a long time. Infrastructure is crumbling beneath us, and we have to be able to repair it.”
