City may increase water rates

Grand Coulee residents may soon face a water rate increase.

City Clerk Carol Boyce said last week that she will propose to the council July 19, that the city increase its water rates by $3 a month, beginning in September.

The increase would help the city replenish its water reserve account, which was depleted during several water service repairs back in 2014.

That year, the city made major water delivery improvements near Jess Ford, city hall and East Heights.

“We paid for those improvements out of our reserves,” Boyce stated. Those improvements cost the city about $400,000, about half of Grand Coulee’s water reserve account.

Boyce said if the council approves the $3-a-month increase it would raise about $1,600 more a month for the city. At that rate it would take more than 20 years to build up $400,000.

The city council has had the issue of water rates on the table for the past two sessions. An ordinance presented called for a 2-percent increase, but the council indicated that it wasn’t enough.

The city will likely continue whatever rate increase it passes at its next meeting for three years or so and then incrementally make another increase.