by Alex Brooks
A meeting of the patrons of the Petersburgh Water District was held on July 30 at 7 pm in the Town Hall. Water District Supervisor Ben Krahforst said most of the meters in the District are not reading correctly and a quarter of them are not working at all.
[private]In light of this, the State Auditor, who is examining the Town’s books, suggested that everyone should pay an equal amount until new meters could be installed.
Currently each household pays twice annually a base rate of $135 plus a charge for usage based on the meter readings. Petersburgh Town Supervisor Siegfried Krahforst suggested that each household pay $180 regardless of usage until new meters are installed. He said he is working with a grant writer to try to get a grant to make some improvements to the Water District. If successful, this would pay for the new meters. Otherwise, the District might consider borrowing to pay for the new meters.
Ben Krahforst said the meters are supposed to last 10 to 30 years depending on how clean the water is. He said the water now is very clean, but when the well in the Town Park was in operation, it had a tendency to put sludge into the system, and Krahforst suspects that that had a negative effect on the meters. Most of the meters are 30 years old and past their expected service life.
Those present had no objection to the $180 fee, except they suggested that vacant houses be charged just the base fee of $135 since they are not using any water. So it was agreed.[/private]