Whiting Residents Frustrated With Communication Over Increased Water Rates
Left, Whiting resident Ron Lorbecki tells the utilities committee Tuesday about the potential for grant funds which could help offset the new increases in water costs. (City-Times photo)
By Brandi Makuski
Village of Whiting residents will pay higher water and sewer rates under proposals by village officials, and some residents are angry over what they claim was improper notice of a public hearing with state officials to discuss the increase.
In early 2013 village leaders filed an application with the Public Service Commission to increase water rates. The proposed increase of 33 percent is due to waning water revenue plus the added expense o f a new water treatment plant.
According to village documents, Whiting residents need to make up for over $88k in cost increases.
A public hearing was scheduled with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission for Tuesday morning, but Village of Whiting Board Member Carol Lepak complained to the village utilities committee Tuesday that most people couldn’t realistically attend, saying the notice for the hearing wasn’t mailed out until Monday.
“Why even bother going through public hearing? To me, this was an absolute waste of time,” Lepak told the committee. “My problem with this is, this was basically cut and dry because this was mailed yesterday and the meeting was this morning. So what was the purpose of the public hearing?”
Utilities Committee Chairman Kevin Lutz said he felt the same frustration over the lack of notice, saying “it wasn’t my idea,” and added he “had nothing to do with” mailing the notices to village’s 1,760 residents.
“And you wonder why no one comes to these meetings?” Lepak asked.
Village resident Diane Szymkowiak accused village administrators of not having respect for the taxpayers.
“There was no notice given to the public at all,” Szymkowiak said. “You’ve got the have respect for the residents, otherwise it’s a waste of time.”
The proposed rates would go into effect within the next quarter.
A message left for Village of Whiting President Paul Stroik was not immediately returned, but earlier this year Stroik told the Portage County Gazette the village needs the increase in water revenues in order to keep up with the repairs and maintenance for the water treatment system.
“The PSC determined what we should be charging,” Stroik told the Gazette. “If we don’t do that, we fall behind.”