On Dec. 1 the residents of Buhl will be receiving higher bills for their water and sewer services.
After holding a public hearing on Wednesday the council voted unanimously for monthly increases of $7.50 for water and $28.36 for wastewater services.
Currently, residents pay a base sewer rate of $34.14 and $27.50 for water. They will raise to $62.50 and $35, respectively. That brings the entire minimum city bill, including sanitation service, to about $130 per household.
Although the increase was discussed during Monday's community meeting residents were still not pleased.
"Tell the fat cats in Washington â€- we don't have it," said resident Glenn Colley.
Concerned residents plan on sending as many letters as they can round up to Capitol Hill in hopes of getting some help.
"It's time to push back a little," said Bill Chisholm, who owns property in Buhl and is the Democratic candidate for District 23 state senator.
To help residents pull their representatives' ears in Washington, in hopes of getting Environmental Protection Agency arsenic policies lightened or perhaps getting more funding appropriated by congress, the city had sample letters and contact information for Rep. Mike Simpson and Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig.
"They would consider our applications more seriously if residents bombard Washington with letters." said Mayor Charles Sheridan.
The rate increase is needed so the city can sell $23 million in bonds to pay for building an $8 million arsenic treatment facility and $15 million wastewater system overhaul.
The annual repayment for the bonds is about $1.5 million, for 30 years.
The city has applied for many federal and state grants but has only received an EPA grant for $286,000 and an Idaho Department of Commerce grant for $500,000.
City Engineer Scott Bybee told residents that while both projects need to move forward, he thought a local movement for assistance was a great idea.
"It's worth the effort to try," Bybee said.
Blair Koch may be reached at 208-316-2607 or
blairkoch@gmail.com.
