Libby City Council approves water rate increase

Against the objections of several Libby residents, the Libby City Council voted overwhelmingly to approve a water rate increase. 

The city’s base water rate will increase from $33 to $45.25, with volume charges coming in increments of 1,000 gallons. The old rates included 3,000 gallons before volume charges were incurred.

The Libby City Council held a special meeting Monday to discuss the water rates. Libby Mayor Doug Roll opened the meeting by characterizing a letter written by City Administrator Jim Hammons sent by the city to residents about the proposed increase as “very confusing and very misleading.”

Roll attempted to soften the impact of the increase by explaining that the city was committing $200,000 per year from the International Paper settlement to the costs, which creates a credit of $9.38 per user per month, which will be applied to each user’s bill.

Dozens of Libby residents attended the public hearing and those who spoke were unanimously opposed to increasing the water rates. Libby resident Arlen Magill said he researched the information provided and, under the new rates, Libby would have the highest water rates in the state. Roll responded to Magill’s concern by referring back to the allegedly misleading letter, but didn’t explain specifically how the information was erroneous. 

Other citizens echoed similar concerns. 

“We don’t get a lot of money,” resident Terry Smith said. “And we can’t afford an increase in water rates.” 

Another resident told the council members that she can barely afford to water her garden during the summer, but can’t afford to water her lawn or let her son play in the sprinkler.

Shane Campbell told the Council that his yard, for which he is often thanked by his neighbors, is going to die under the new rates. “I can’t wait to see your faces when you drive by my place after I stop watering because you told me to,” Campbell said. “Please, just work with the community here.”

Residents also expressed concerns regarding the $9.38 credit, as it is dependent upon the continuation of the settlement, which is renewed every 10 years. Five years remain on the current term. The credit can also be discontinued by future city councils, which would effectively create a rate increase without the need for public comment or approval from the city council.

At one point Roll unilaterally closed the meeting, as Libby resident DC Orr interjected with claims of $900,000 being overpaid to a contractor for city work. Orr claimed the work was authorized “in secret” by Mayor Roll. The mayor then reopened the meeting to allow additional public comments.

Another resident, Kim Yandle, asked the mayor when he would answer Orr’s assertions. Roll promised Yandle the council would hold another meeting to discuss the allegations “as soon as possible,” but did not respond to her request for a specific date. 

The council voted 5-1 to approve the rate hike without much discussion. Councilman Bill Bischoff made the motion to approve the increase. Councilman Allen Olsen was the lone dissenting vote.