Midville water, sewer rates revamped
By Field Manley

Midville citizens are noticing some changes on their water and sewer bills for the first time in years.

A new rate structure for the services went into effect last month.

The changes, according to Midville Mayor Pro Tem Scotty Womack, are designed to make the cost of the services more appropriate for the amount of water customers use.

"The big users weren't paying anymore than the smaller users," Womack explained. "This is a more equitable rate structure."

Under the new structure, small users may not notice much of a change in their bill, while larger users will likely see an increase in the amounts they pay.

Womack added that the changes are also necessary for the city to pay for maintenance and improvements to the water and sewer system. There are only about 225 users inside the city limits and a few dozen outside to pay the debt on the improve- ments, he said.

The city's rates have not changed in three years, and prior to that change, rates had gone untouched for about 12 years.

While citizens did not voice opposition to the new rates at council's meeting Monday night, they did call attention to the quality of their services.

Several citizens expressed their concerns at the meeting, citing complaints about reddish or brown water coming out of their faucets.

Many also expressed concerns about people who did not pay their water bill but still received water.

Womack told the group the situation is being addressed and people who do not pay their water bill will have their water turned off.

Womack called the task of supplying citizens with water and also paying for the necessary improvements "a major undertaking."

(Editor's note: Staff writer Anne Marie Kyzer contributed to this article.)