“WE’RE BEING ROBBED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT”,
CUSTOMERS VENT AS THEIR BILLS COULD GO UP OVER 40 CENTS PER DOLLAR (44%)
JUNE 15, 2019 – written by WADE QUEEN
A LETTER OF PROTEST: ONE CUSTOMER AMONG MANY WRITING TO PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OVER PLANNED INCREASE OF WATER RATES IN MARTIN COUNTY
Customers live and use within the Martin County Water District (MCWD) could see another rate increase in the future.
Officials with the Public Service Commission (PSC) have required the Martin County Water District to hire a new management company.
Many individuals fear this will cost those customers too much money.
“We’ve been concerned all along that a management company is going to cost too much,” said Nina McCoy, who is a customer. When the new management company takes over, a rate increase could be implemented, in addition to the current water rate.
“They allowed a rate increase, so by the time a company comes in, we will have a 44% rate increase,” explained Ms. McCoy.
Now, those water customers hope to see only one manager hired instead of a new company to save money.
“40% of the population in Martin County are at or below the poverty level. So when you’re asking them to pay more in rates, it’s going to be too much,” Nina McCoy pointed out.
In a meeting held on Thursday, June 6, Nina McCoy and others asked Martin County Water District customers to send a letter to the Public Service Commission.
The purpose of this letter is to ask for a smaller increase and a single manager.
Pamela Blevins, who is a water district customer told Hazard Ky. television station WYMT she will need to make big changes in order to afford the rate increase.
“It’s either I let something go like medications or groceries or I pay the water bill,” said Ms. Blevins.
Pamela Blevins has lived in Martin County for 15 years.
“We’re being robbed in broad daylight,” said Ms. Blevins. She also wrote a letter to the Public Service Commission .
“Why are we paying for water that we can’t even drink out of the tap?” questioned Blevins. “They should have been on top of this all these years when they had the money.”
Pamela Blevins said she is not surprised by the possibility of another rate increase.
“They know they have their foot on the throat of this county,” Blevins said. “All they have to do is just stand there and the money will keep rolling in.”
McCoy told WYMT water district customers are already paying a high rate.
“We already have some of the highest rates. We’ve done a lot of studies on this. The minimum rate that we have is one of the highest in the whole region,” McCoy explained. “Our minimum right now is $38.51.”
In a recent letter to Commissioners with the Public Service Commission one Martin County Water District official explained after reviewing documents it appears a significant rate increase will be required to cover costs to retain a contract manager for operations and maintenance of the water system.
“I understand that the infrastructure of this water and sewer district has been let go for way too long. Now, they’re trying to back up and pay and you can’t do that,” Pamela Blevins explained.
Nina McCoy said those who caused the debt should be held accountable.
“To allow your water district to get into that kind of debt, that’s criminal,” Ms.McCoy pointed out. “Who’s going to have to pay for the fact that they have done this? The poor people and the working people.”
According to the Public Service Commission, one company looking to take over the department is Alliance Water Resources (AWR), Inc. Alliance Water Resources is a company which provides water and wastewater management, operations and maintenance services.
Right now, Alliance Water Resources Inc. is partnering with communities in Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Iowa.
We do not know when this possible rate increase may take effect or if Alliance Water Resources, Inc. will take over management of the water district.
If you would like to write a letter to the Public Service Commission, here is the address with the case number:
Public Service Commission
RE: CASE NO. 2018-00017
P.O. BOX 615
Frankfort, KY 40602-0615
LINK TO THE 93 PAGE LEGAL DOCUMENT REPORT FILE OF ALLIANCE WATER RESOURCE PROPOSAL TO TAKE OVER THE MARTIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
