The Columbia County Public Works and Engineering Services Committee will discuss water utility rates during its meeting Tuesday morning.
On the agenda for the Public Works and Engineering Services Committee is resolution 23-26 to amend the fee schedule for water utility. According to the agenda document, the county has maintained the current water and sewer rates since April 1, 2016 and kept the current tap fees since April 1, 2017.
“We have experienced increases in the cost of supplies, power, labor and construction and this rate increase will allow us to maintain our operations at a high level. We currently have the lowest water and sewer rates of our benchmark counties as shown in the attachments. Even with the proposed rate increase, we will still maintain the lowest rates of our benchmark counties. In order to prepare for the up-coming plant expansions and the Master Plan project recommendations, the rate increase is a necessary first step to funding these projects,” the agenda document states.
The proposed increases would take place over the next three years. For residential, the water rate in FY24 would have a base charge of $11.95. The sewer rate base charge would be $15.21 and the rate per 1,000 gallons is $2.66. In FY25, the residential water rates base charge is $12.31. The residential sewer rates base charge is $15.67. In FY26, the residential water rates base charge will be $12.68 and the residential sewer rates base charge is $16.14. For all three years the commercial water and sewer rates vary depending on sizes.
The changes, if approved, would go into effect July 1 of each year. The staff recommendation is to add the item to the debate agenda for two readings.
The Community and Emergency Services Committee will be discussing the renewal of several contracts at its meeting on Tuesday, May 23.
The county is looking at renewing the contract with Simke Tennis Academy for the Tennis Fundamentals Program. According to the agenda document, the county entered a contract in the fall and spring as part of the youth sports program for the county.
“The County entered into the agreement with an initial term beginning March 3, 2020 and terminating on June 30, 2021 with the option to renew for four (4) additional one-year terms,” the agenda document said.
A tournament agreement with Clark Hill Committee of the CSRA Bass Tournaments is also on the agenda. According to the agenda document, the Clark Hill Committee has requested Wildwood Park agree to co-host eight fishing tournaments between October 2023 and June 2024 for a $5,000 fee. The staff is recommending approving the request.
The library services agreement with the Greater Clarks Hill Regional Library is also on the agenda. According to the agenda document, the agreement is an adjustment to the budget for the 2023-2-24 fiscal year.
“Staff recommends approving the budget adjustment in the Greater Clarks Hill Regional Library System Agreement in the amount of $440,106.89 (salaries reimbursement grant), $84,494.00 (materials grant), and $6,581.89 (system service grant) to be placed in the Library Materials & Salaries Line Codes for July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024,” according to the agenda document.
There are also fire services mutual aid agreements with the City of Grovetown, City of Harlem, Clarks Hill Volunteer Fire Department in McCormick, S.C., Thomson-McDuffie County and Lincoln County on the agenda.
The two committees are meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23 in the Evans Government Center auditorium.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
