City makes headway in repairing water-main breaks

In just a few short weeks, Troy may have solved up to 90 percent of its leaking water-main problem. But utility rates still are going to change to help bail Troy out of debt.

While a detection service found 15 prime locations for leaks, the two major holes have been repaired.

The first was a tennis ball-sized hole in the main under the Stein’s parking lot. The second was the pipe near Lake Creek Inn, where the city’s old system met the newer one heading west out of town.

“It looked like someone used it for a dart board,” said Troy Mayor Tony Brown.

Thompson Contracting, of Libby, fixed the Lake Creek problem, leaving several smaller leaks yet to be addressed.

What does all this mean for utility rates? For Troy to erase the $24,000 debt in the Sewer Department, the city has devised a plan to raise sewer rates and lower power and water rates. The current plan, to raise sewer by $2 a month and lower power and water by a dollar (or near enough) each, would get Troy in the black in approximately two years.

At that point, the city can look into refinancing to lower loan interest rates.   

An important caveat to the power rates is that one- and three-phase demand rates will actually increase, affecting 22 commercial customers.

Troy held a public meeting regarding the rate changes at the Kootenai Senior Center that drew a crowd of nearly 50 people. The reaction was mixed.

“I think the proposed rate is a very reasonable idea,” said Bonnie Larson, owner of Larson Lumber.

Other business owners and managers were not so forgiving. 

“It’s going to hit us for $10,000 next year,” said Jim Baillie, store manager of Stein’s. “We paid $46,000 last year for power, and now it looks like it will be $56,000.”

The proposed rate changes, if approved, will go into effect in January. Troy residents and businesses would not see any changes until then.