Rising Roachdale utility rates frustrate fixed income citizens

ROACHDALE -- Multiple members of the Roachdale community were present at the December town council meeting to express their frustrations at the utility rate increases due to begin in February and continue until June.

The drastic change is the first rate hike in eight years and the impact of the increases, particularly upon those who live on a fixed income, were discussed by the board throughout the process of the rate study which determined the amount of the increase.

The board explained that its hands were tied in the matter and that if rates were not raised, it was only a short matter of time before the town would go broke as it has been losing money on utilities for some time.

The board also admitted that the best way to have avoided this drastic increase would have been to slowly raise rates each year to lessen the shock of the increased rates.

"If you don't fix things as you go, it just keeps piling up and piling up until it costs you a bundle at the end," board president Jack Jones said.

Despite the board's explanation that its hands were tied on raising the rates more than 50 percent in order to keep the town afloat financially, citizens still expressed their frustrations, accusing the board of inaction.

For a brief period, the discussion turned to accusations that the board was simply not taking responsibility.

"You're talking about blaming people in the past here, it's like every politician in the world does that, they blame the past. How long have you all been on this board?" community member Troy Riley confronted the board.

When Jones responded he'd been on the board for nine years, Riley's tone turned irritated.

"Nothing has been done in nine years when you've been sitting in that chair and then you tell us this now? So that's your fault," Riley said.

Soon, several board members were speaking in defense of Jones and the cacophony of voices was cleared as board member Barbara Scott jumped in.

"It's the whole infrastructure. It's just getting old and we've done repairs and we've kept up on things. But sometimes things just come to a complete head and we need to get it done. That's why we've gone in and done this water thing (water rate study)" she explained.

The board also talked about the role of grant money that helps offset costs, but explained that grants can be time consuming to apply for and receive.

"The grants don't happen in one week," Scott said.

It was pointed out to Riley that "you can only put band-aids on things for so long and that's what we've done.

Roachdale Clerk-Treasurer Martha Louk provided the example that at $47.98, the base rate for water and sewage, the increase would equate to an extra $24 per month.

"That averages out to about six bucks per week," Louk concluded.

"Not that much but it adds up," Jones, board member Zach Bowers and attendee Tammy Folck agreed in unison.

Roachdale will see water rates will increase in two 26.1 percent increments that will occur in February and April, totaling a 52.2 percent increase overall.

Sewage rates will increase in two 25.8 percent increments that will occur in March and June, totaling a 50.8 percent overall increase.

Town council meetings are the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the Roachdale Town Hall.