Utility rate increases on Walhalla’s minds

Those utility rate increases that are going to cause Walhalla customers to dig deeper were a big topic during a city hall meeting that stretched to two and one-half hours.  And there were some in the audience who wanted to hear what the mayor and the council would say.  The consensus from the meeting room table, however, was that as distasteful as it is to enact mid-year higher water and sewer charges, the city believes it has no choice considering the plight of the financially troubled Joint Regional Sewer Authority.  And no choice for a number of reasons, as pointed out by City Administrator Brandon Burton and Councilmen Keith Pace and Grant Keehn.  Like many others in the sewer business, Walhalla shoulders having to lose money year after year for sewer service.  In its case, water revenues are targeted to pay for sewer deficits.  Another big factor, as brought up by Keehn, is Walhalla’s obligation to make good on a required $1.2 million yearly payment toward retiring the debt on its new water plant, which Keehn says was an obligation the city was forced to accept to ensure a clean water supply.  Missing such a payment, Keehn explained, would throw the city’s financial standing into chaos.