Terms on town boards and committees are usually staggered so new members join others who have more experience on that board, but this year, all three seats on the Water Commission are open due to two resignations and a normally expiring term. Three candidates are running for those seats (down from six residents who initially…
Water Dept.*
Water usage rates to go up by 28%, base charges by 43%
By Alice Waugh Water usage rates will be going up by 28% as of April 1, and the quarterly base charge will also go up from $35 to $50 for homeowners following a public hearing and Water Commission vote on February 25. The commission also voted to start assessing base charges by dwelling unit rather…
Water Commission proposes 30% rate hike
By Alice Waugh The Water Commission has proposed a water rate increase of 30%, along with a base meter rate hike from $35 per quarter to $50. In addition, the base meter charge for multi-unit complexes would be assessed on a per-dwelling basis, not by a per-meter basis as has been done in the past….
More big spending, rate hike on tap for Water Department
By Alice Waugh The Water Department is asking for a significant increase in its operating budget for next year, as well as another substantial hike in water rates. And in a sign of ongoing concern about the department, no less than six residents have taken out nominating papers for the three seats on the Water…
Farmers protest sudden end to lower water rates
By Alice Waugh The Water Department recently stopped allowing rate caps for agricultural users of town water, but after farmers were taken by surprise and objected, officials decided this week to study the matter further. The issue of water rates is a sore subject for the town. To help pay for an array of capital…
Amid grumbling, voters approve another loan for Water Department
By Alice Waugh The Water Department will be getting more oversight after its recent spending spree to fix a rash of problems with the water system. In response to the funding crisis, a team of town officials — Town Administrator Tin Higgins, Assistant Town Administrator Mary Day, Finance Director Colleen Wilkins, and Finance Commission members…
Water Department in financial and staffing crisis
By Alice Waugh At a Special Town Meeting on November 2, voters will be asked to approve a second large request for Water Department funding this year — and residents who use town water could see a rate hike approaching 50%. This week’s move to borrow $967,000 and transfer another $340,000 from retained earnings comes…
More borrowing, water rate hikes on the horizon
At the upcoming Special Town Meeting, the Water Department will ask voters for the second bond issue this year to pay for repairs and deferred maintenance in Lincoln’s water system — a bond that will result in another rate hike for those on town water. The bond vote will take place at a Special Town…
Water Dept. needs to borrow more than $1 million
New state requirements and deferred maintenance mean that the Lincoln Water Department is asking to borrow just over $1 million. Of the $1.01 million to be requested via bonding at the March 23 Annual Town Meeting, $817,000 is earmarked for regulatory compliance items required by the state Department of Environmental Protection’s 2018 Sanitary Survey of…