Rathdrum Turns Off Billing Complaints

The city of Rathdrum will no longer accept appeals for water bills, the City Council decided Tuesday night.

Last summer, the city began charging Rathdrum residents with water meters rates based on how much water they were using. Residents without water meters were charged the same flat rate they had been charged in the past. That provoked complaints from residents who thought the practice unfair because water customers with meters were getting charged more than those without.

In September, the city decided to place a moratorium on charging metered rates. Since then, water customers with meters have been urging the council to make their summer water bills the same amount as if they had been paying a flat rate.

After one final customer appealed a summer water bill Tuesday, the council unanimously decided to close the period during which it would consider appeals.

The moratorium on charging metered rates is scheduled to end June 30. The council will discuss the rates at its June 9 meeting at 7 p.m. in City Hall.