February 23, 2024 |
Photo – Town of Medicine Bow logo – Bigfoot99 file photo
The town of Medicine Bow has raised the price for bulk commercial water by $12.
Medicine Bow has a bulk water station, located on the east side of town, on Walnut Street. The town council has voted to raise the fee for commercial water haulers from $10 to $22 for every one-thousand gallons. The residential bulk water rate will stay the same.
During the February 12th Medicine Bow town council meeting, Public Works Director Brian Lashley said the town does not charge enough for its commercial water. Lashley said at least six large-scale construction projects are planned for the summer and they’ll need water. The public works director asked the council if they want to raise the price now or wait until an ongoing water rate study is completed.
The town was charging the same $10 per thousand gallons for both residential and commercial bulk water.
Lashley said he contacted 23 other municipalities in Wyoming to ask what they charge for bulk water. The public works director said the other towns can sell untreated water for a very low cost.
Maintenance Operator Frank Fisher said he believes the Environmental Protection Agency has regulations in place to prevent Medicine Bow from selling non-potable water. Fisher said the town is currently only supplying safe drinking water at the bulk water station.
Town Clerk and Treasurer Karen Heath said Medicine Bow used to sell raw water from a large tank outside of the water treatment plant. Heath said the EPA put a stop to that nearly 20 years ago after high levels of naturally occurring radiation were found in the water.
Small amounts of radioactive elements like radium and uranium can be found in the rock and soil around Medicine Bow. The minerals dissolve into the ground water, which is why the EPA forbids the town from selling untreated water.
Maintenance Operator Fisher said the Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems, or WARWS, recommends that the town should charge more for commercial bulk water. The maintenance operator said nothing is preventing Medicine Bow from charging commercial water haulers $20 per thousand gallons. Fisher said the residential bulk water price should remain the same.
Fisher said the town’s bulk water station computer can be programed to charge a different price to residents and commercial haulers.
The maintenance operator said the haulers have asked the town to create an account invoice system at the bulk water station. Fisher said the truck drivers don’t always have access to company credit cards.
Fisher said the bulk water station computer can create invoices to be sent to the water haulers.
Mayor Justin George said he would like the commercial bulk water rate to increase to $20 per thousand gallons. Mayor George said a $2 administrative fee should be added to cover the time it will take the town clerk to process the invoices and mail them to the trucking companies.
Councilman Trevor Strauch motioned to raise the town’s commercial bulk water rate from $10 to $22 per thousand gallons. Councilwoman Crystal Mayfield seconded and the motion passed.
Maintenance Operator Fisher said he will work on the bulk water station computer to institute the changes to the rates and billing system the council requested.
