Chelan council revisits water, sewer rates

CHELAN - Sharon Lukacs, Executive Director at Chelan Valley Hope (CVH), was recognized by Chelan Mayor Mike Cooney at the beginning of the June 11 Council Meeting.

“Sharon wears a lot of different hats in our community and one of them is coming to an end,” said Cooney. Lukacs was recognized due to her contribution and commitment to the community. Cooney explained that she was one of the founding members of CVH 10 years ago. “Ten years, this is the longest job I have held in my career,” said Lukacs. She continued telling attendees and the Council about the many changes she has encountered through the years at CVH. “When we started, we were concerned about the downturn in the economy. People were going from full-time to part-time and were unable to meet some of their financial obligations,” explained Lukacs. Now the problem isn’t jobs, it’s affordable places to live in.

Lukacs will continue to serve the community once she concludes her time with CVH. “I am excited to stay on as a Board Member with the Chelan Valley Housing Trust and finding some other ways to stay involved,” she mentioned. Cooney then thanked Lukacs for her work on behalf of the community.

The Council moved on to the next agenda item that Andy Baker of FCS Group covered regarding water and sewer rates. Baker walked the Council through a presentation on how to best address utility customers who go inactive for an extended period of time and vacant properties. City Administrator Mike Jackson explained that the current City Code requires monthly rates from those properties to be paid. As previously requested by the Council, Baker presented research and different monthly charging options. The three alternatives presented to Council included:
    •     Retaining the existing policy - relief allowed for single family homes in case of fire or disaster, 24 months. All other customers must continue paying base charges, or pay a full new GFC when they reconnect.
    •     Expanding exemption terms - allow non-single family homes to qualify. Allow other reasons besides fire or natural disasters.
    •    Discount to inactive customers rate - allow qualifying customers to pay a reduced base rate to avoid being required to pay new connection fee. Cost-of-Service bases for rate reduction.

After presenting the options, Baker touched on cost-of-service for each alternative. Jackson will work with Baker to fine tune details on the alternatives based on the comments from the Council that evening. “We will come back with another administrative report and settle in a direction. Then we will come back a motion consideration,” said Jackson.