Lompico water district approves rate increase

Lompico water users are set to take on a major hike in fees after the water district didn’t get enough petitions to fight the hikes. News Channel 5 spoke to residents and water officials about the rate increase.

Merrie Schaller is thevice president of Lompico Water District and she said they only received 80 letters from residents protesting the rate increase. The district needed 247 to stop the increase.

“I’m veryrelieved, yes, and actually relieved that it wasn’t even close,” said Schaller.

“We have alot of things to fix and a lot of cost and we aren’t even sure we can payour bills this month,” Schaller said

Schaller said this month alone the district had to fork out $15,000 just in repairs.Now Lompico residents will have to pay about $100 more every two months.

“I think it was excessive and could be spent more wisely,” said Erreca

But some other residents didn’t protest the rate increase, and actually welcome it.

“It’s not whether I agree or not, it’s whether we are going to have water
for the people of Lompico. Its just whether the water company can survive
for another year,” said Lompico resident, Sean Wharton

And for people like Erreca who wrote letters protesting the increase, inthe end it just wasn’t enough.

“I have no choice, so I just accept it, and I figure that it’s the price I
get to pay for living in such a beautiful place,” said Erreca.

The water district said it will have millions of dollars worth of repairs to make. Lompico residents will see a rate increase on their bills in June.