HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Letter from James and Lisa Sorenson opposing proposed rate increase .TAMES G. SORENSON AND LISA E. SORENSON
2000INDIAN GRASS COURT, AMES, IowA 50014
TEL: 515-292-6642
April 20, 2008
Dear Ames City Council Members:
My name is Jim Sorenson and my wife and I live at 2000 Indian Grass Court. We are
very concerned about the proposed formula for increasing the irrigation water rates. I
have spoken with the City utility department, Steve Schainker and John Dunn as to why
this is being done and how the cost brackets affect us.
I still believe that if the City of Ames needs a new water treatment plant then let's
proceed with it. Aren't we just delaying the inevitable by doing what is proposed? It
seems to me that if Ames is going to grow at all, we will need this new plant sooner than
later.
In the meantime, I don't understand why certain Ames residents should pay a punitive fee
for irrigation water. When we built our home 12 years ago, I recall the yard area was
mostly clay. We have a fairly large lawn and it requires regular watering to look decent.
I looked back at the past three years for June, July and August and based on the proposed
formula I was given, it would become prohibitive to water our lawn sufficiently. (I have
enclosed a table showing the breakdown.) I am diligent about not overwatering, but
when the weather is hot and dry, we will always exceed 5,000 units/month. At that point
we would be paying 5 times what we currently pay for water.
I do understand that if the City is trying to build funding for the new water plant, then
higher fees may be necessary, but shouldn't those fees be applied evenly? If we use more
water, we will naturally pay more, but why should we have a heavy penalty assessed to
us? I freak out when I get a $200 irrigation bill now. With the new proposal, we would
have months exceeding $700 just to water our lawn! I understand the need to conserve
and I will be even more diligent about water use from now on but this isn't fair! If we
want an attractive city with nice-looking homes that should contribute to people wanting
to live here, let's all share the burden equally. I would think rather than the bracketed
exponential 1.5, 3 and 5 times the current rate proposal, if the rate was set at 2 times (for
example) the current rate for everyone in Ames, we would accomplish the same thing.
We appreciate your consideration.
Sincerely,
James G. Sorenson
2000 Indian Grass Court
Irrigation Meter Statements
2005 Usage Actual Cost Proposal _
June 4,990 $ 84.43 $ 180.91
July 9,050 $ 144.82 $ 482.54
August 5,730 $ 95.45 $ 235.65
_ $ 324.70 $ 899.10 (277% increase)
2006 Usage Actual Cost Proposal _
June 11,990 $ 188.55 $ 701.18
July 7,570 $ 122.81 $ 372.48
August 1,820 $ 37.29 $ 43.48
$ 348.65 $1,117.14 (320% increase)
2007 Usage Actual Cost Proposal _
June 4,840 $ 82.58 $ 174.22
July 13,390 $ 209.74 $ 760.56
August 7,200 $ 117.68 $ 344.96
_ _ $ 410.00 $1,279.74 (312% increase)