 The Pawhuska City Council held a Special Meeting Wednesday Afternoon to receive a presentation from Arthur Pittman with Communities Unlimited regarding his recent rate study for Pawhuska, and to make a determination if the City of Pawhuska needs to increase the rates of their sewer and water utilities. Communities Unlimited a Non-Profit organization out of Fayetteville Arkansas which provided free water and wastewater rate studies along with other services.
Pittman conducted a short term rate study for sewer and water utilities for the months of March through June of 2016 and determined that, much like the previous fiscal year, the City would end the year in the negative to an amount of nearly $83,000 if utility rates were not increased. The troubling results also presented another problem, if there was to be another issue with the Pawhuska water treatment facility or water lines, similar to those which caused a boil order in August, it would likely cost the City upwards of $3 million to replace. The City also would not be able to apply for grants to assist with the replacement of the treatment center or numerous aging water lines throughout the city without a rate increase. The Study also showed that residents of Pawhuska pay some of the lowest prices for their water utilities in the region, and customers have not seen an increase in their water and sewer utilities since 2009, so the sudden increase will most likely be a shock. City utility customers will see an increase of $2.00 per 1,000 gallons on their next sewer utility bill, which for many customers will amount to a $8.00 per month increase, and residents will see an increase to an $8.00 base price per month for 1,000 gallons and 25 cent per each additional 1,000 gallons on their water utility bill. The Pawhuska City Council understood that an increase is not what anyone wants but it is what is necessary. They also stated that the goal is to create a savings for when the water treatment center will need to be replaced, and have funds to continue maintenance on the aging water lines until the 100 year old system can be replaced.
Floyd Raley
10/13/2016 08:45:31 pm
The people on fixed incomes can' t aford utilities now and you're going to increase them more. When is it going to stop?
Constance
10/14/2016 02:41:01 am
I just would like to see the study and read the results My daughter lived in the house I now live in and she never paid as much as I have on the utilities and she kept the Air conditioner lower then I do. She lives in Bartlesville and to add her water and electric with sewer and garbage she paid over $100 less all summer then I did. Why? We need a new city council to get this price down and new mayor. 10/13/2016 10:52:00 pm
Pawhuska you act as if your residents don't matter to you. Perhaps if monies had been used correctly in the past a rate increase may not have been needed. You are bleeding your citizens dry! Pawhuska is my hometown but I am seriously thinking of moving to Bartlesville. Utility prices are much lower there for better service! 10/13/2016 10:52:29 pm
Pawhuska you act as if your residents don't matter to you. Perhaps if monies had been used correctly in the past a rate increase may not have been needed. You are bleeding your citizens dry! Pawhuska is my hometown but I am seriously thinking of moving to Bartlesville. Utility prices are much lower there for better service!
Robert Driscoll
10/14/2016 06:34:38 am
What in the actual f*** is gonna be next gonna charge us to breathe the damn air show the results of this little study. Personally I think we need to see the way the city officials are being paid. Bet we find enough money to fix s*** around here. Totally ridiculous
Barbara Jones
10/14/2016 01:15:54 pm
I just moved from Boone Iowa to come back to my hometown where my family lives. But Oh MY GOD... The utilities here are totally ridiculous. I cannot believe I am paying this much for a one bedroom and the electric, that is almost over $300 dollars each month. I love this little town but the city is running their residence out of town to other towns/cities that has better price on the utility bills. This is a small town, most of the people here are traveling to other cities as it is for work. then have to use their hard on money to keep the air and the heat on in the homes. Please You all need to do something about this raise...
Penny
10/14/2016 07:18:07 pm
The utilities here are very, very ridiculous. My daughter lives in Tulsa , her house is bigger then mine and she has 3 more people living with her then I do. There are 5 in her house and only 2 living in mine. Her utilities are always $150- $200 cheaper then mine is . I so agree something needs to be done. Comments are closed.
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