Common Council: No Decision Made to Raise City Water Rates

Officials in the City of Dunkirk have been talking about the possibility of adjusting the city's water rates. A media report published last Monday highlighted a discussion about those rates during a Finance Committee meeting. The report stated that officials were "eyeing an increase in the base rate that all city water customers pay, from $20 to $30," beginning January 1st. However, two members of the Common Council, who were guests on WDOE's "Viewpoint" program, say there has been no official decision to do that. Second Ward Councilman Frank Torain read a statement issued by Councilman at Large Nick Weiser...

Frank Torain: council has not discussed raising water rates

Torain says if the city decreases its declining block rate, there would be no need to raise residential water rates. First Ward Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak added that the subject, which was brought up by DPW Director Randy Woodbury, "was news to us" at that meeting...

Natalie Luczkowiak: Woodbury spoke of how to raise it

According to Torain, the report "gave residents the impression that we were going to raise water rates" on them. He says raising residential water rates would be a last resort.

Meanwhile, a local law to amend the city's water billing structure is on the agenda for the Common Council's next regular meeting, which will take place on Tuesday. The measure, sponsored by Torain and Third Ward Councilman Gary Frederickson, would amend the City Code to "increase the amount of revenues received by the city for the water services which it provides, in order to more accurately reflect the cost of providing those services."

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