Danielsville mulls water rate increases

The city council, which is considering different water price increases, reviewed the corresponding revenue projections during a three-hour-and-40-minute meeting Feb. 1.

The different projections included figures for raising base rates by 50 percent and 100 percent and different increases for additional gallon usage (over 2,000 gallons).

Danielsville’s current base fee is $5.50 inside the city limits and $10 outside the city limits, and those base fees bring in $43,758 annually.

Though the city hasn’t made any rate changes, plans for anticipated revenue increases have been made. Danielsville went ahead and canceled the remaining furlough days for city employees in anticipation of increased water revenue.

City clerk Connie Riley provided a comparison of Danielsville’s water rates to cities of similar size in the area and plugged in some of the rate increases in the evaluation.

“Even at this, these rates are still lower than some of those surrounding cities, and surrounding cities in Madison County for that matter,” Riley said.

The city may also consider boosting commercial rates as a way to bolster revenue.

In addition to rate changes, the city is also planning an overhaul of its billing procedures, including how it will handle hardship cases for those who are haven’t paid their bills.

“The people who need help I have no problem helping,” councilwoman Junne Temple said. “But the people who use this as a tool to get out of paying their bill, I have a problem with.”

Danielsville will hold a work session Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. at city hall to further discuss water rate changes.

Water and sewerage discussion in general dominated much of the city’s lengthy Feb. 1 meeting.

The city reviewed an evaluation of the Danielsville sewer sedimentation pond, which is located on county school property.
Council members and city workers also discussed the new lift station that’s planned for Madison Street, hashing out the pros and cons of an above-ground pump versus a submergible version.

Danielsville still has to purchase and install the equipment for the lift station.

At least two city maintenance workers favored an above-ground pump, saying they were more familiar with the equipment.

Still, Temple wanted to compare the cost and asked city workers to obtain some prices for submersible pumps.