Water, sewer rates will increase, commissioner says

After years of haggling, the rate debate in Liberty Lake may soon gain clarity.

On Tuesday, Tom Agnew, commissioner of Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District, updated the City Council that rates will increase.

Costs of building the new sewer plant and making upgrades to meet stricter future environmental standards will cause rates to climb, he said.

Because the Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t established the new standards for dischargers, Agnew is unsure of what those upgrade costs will entail.

Agnew told that council that LLSWD’s rates are actually lower than the majority of Washington cities.

Citing statistics from the Association of Washington Cities, he said the district is in the lowest 30 percent for sewer rates and the lowest 10 percent for water rates, before city utility taxes are added on top.

Mayor Steve Peterson scoffed at the statistics, saying that he knows his bill is higher than other jurisdictions. He recapped a complaint from the manager of a corporate business park who is angry about charges.

“The rate discussion that we apparently need to have is about to be scheduled,” Agnew said.

The meeting could take some of the mystery out of how rates are set. It will be scheduled in the next few weeks, when the consultant conducting the district’s rate current study is available.

Postal Service to branch out

The U.S. Postal Service hopes to expand its Liberty Lake operations by next spring.

On Tuesday, a representative told the City Council that the post office is interested in moving into a larger building to accommodate growing routes.

The post office plans to advertise for bids from contractors willing to design, construct and own a roughly 6,500 square-foot building.

In return, the post office would lease the facility for 20 years, with two five-year options to extend.

Fees for building permits and golf to increase

The City Council approved a modest fee increase for Trailhead Golf Course after learning the city-owned course, which received extensive upgrades, barely broke even last year.

Golfers will pay 25 cents more for a bucket of range balls and 50 cents more to golf. Season passes are unaffected by the increase.

City Finance Director Arlene Fisher said the additional revenue will offset increases in maintenance and staffing costs.

Liberty Lake is set for an increase in building permit fees.

Doug Smith, director of community development, said the city hasn’t raised fees during the nearly four years since incorporation.

Smith, who said Liberty Lake’s fees are lagging behind other cities, is putting together a comparison analysis to forward to the council.

Library trustee confirmed

Phil Hamm, an employee at Inland Northwest Health Services, was confirmed as a member of Liberty Lake Municipal Library’s board of directors.

While living in Minnesota, he served on a planning commission and was a board member for the Waseca Library and Art Center.