Junction City water, sewer costs increase for local households

JUNCTION CITY (KSNT) - Officials in Junction City approved changes to water and sewer rates this week which take effect for local residents at the start of the new year.

Junction City commissioners met on Dec. 17 to discuss several items, including possible changes to the water and sewer rates for local residents using a plan developed by the consulting company Raftelis. These changes are included in two ordinances: G-1311 for water rates and G-1312 for sewer rates.

Agenda memo documents obtained by 27 News show commissioners discussed a 11.5% increase in base sewer rate fees and a 6% water rate increase in both rates and the base fee. Commissioners approved the rate changes during the meeting, which are due to take effect as of Jan. 1, 2025.

Junction City households, on average, will see an increase of $3 per month to their water rates and $5 per month to sewer rates, according to memo documents. Junction City Mayor Pat Landes, responding to a question from a local citizen, gave an explanation as to why this is necessary.

"We're putting millions and millions of dollars into our water and wastewater system plants over quite a few years and to pay that we have to have graduated increases to pay for those," Landes said. "Meeting federal guidelines and going forward we haven't had enough money to fix the lines that are in the ground. We've worked a lot on the plants, we're starting to work on lines that are in the ground and they're in the oldest part of our city."

Stephen Capizzi, a local homeowner, raised concerns during the commission meeting, and spoke with 27 News on Dec. 19 about why he is worried for the increase in cost for Junction City households. He said many in Junction City live below the poverty line, and will feel the increased costs.

"You fill your tub up, you smell like you're in a water park," Capizzi said. "It's more like they [Junction City commissioners] want to be reactive once they have to be reactive. It's deferred maintenance and now they're scrambling."

Junction City commissioners approved of both ordinance G-1311 and G-1312 at a vote of 3-2. Commissioners Al Gordon and Richard Pinaire voted against the ordinances while Landes, Vice Mayor Ronna Larson and Commissioner Jeff Underhill voted in approval of the ordinances.

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