New city water rates to take effect March 20

Members of the Grant City Council adopted new metered water rates with a 3-1 vote at the Nov. 28 meeting, with Matt Greenwood voting no. 

Mayor Mike Wyatt opened the meeting by answering 15 questions emailed to members of the council by Greenwood concerning the water project. Greenwood stated in the email he believed they could not vote to set water rates until the questions were answered. The questions and Wyatt’s corresponding answers are as follows:

• Has the legal process with the North Side Water District been concluded and are they legally within the jurisdiction of the City of Grant water department?

Wyatt said according to Ordinance 51.03 item 3, once consumers accept water services, they agree to contractual duties. So even if all paperwork is not finished, it would not have any bearing on setting the water rates. 

• Have the residents on the south side physically and legally separated from the City of Grant water department?

Wyatt said he would have to answer as yes. “A couple put in wells. Others went about it in a different way. We only have one service left on that line,” he said. 

• Has the new water line extension from Dollar General to Mr. and Mrs. Erickson been legally accepted by the City of Grant with all easements duly recorded? Has the old Erickson water line been disconnected from the city water main?

Wyatt said the line from Dollar General to Erickson’s is private activity and no acceptance is needed from the city. The old water line has been disconnected.  

• Has the cost of the number of residents separating from the city water system been calculated into the rates?

Wyatt said yes, as the projections were established by the number of water meters installed. 

• Has the water dispute between the City of Grant and Hi-Line Coop been resolved?

Wyatt said he has not heard otherwise.

• Do we know the total cost of the water meter project?

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