By Robert Barron, Staff Writer

Enid residents will see an increase in their city utility bills in about a month, reflecting the increase approved Tuesday by Enid City Com-mission.

Commissioners approved a motion to adopt a perpetual water rate increase of 5.5 percent annually for residential use. The base rate for the first 1,000 gallons will remain the same at $8 for the first year, then will increase 5.5 percent annually, along with other water rates. The current residential rate is $8 for the first 1,000 gallons, and $1.27 per gallon above 1,000 gallons of water used. The rates apply to up to 6,999 gallons per month. At 7,000 gallons, a conservation rate takes effect.

The commission also increased sewer, sewer improvement and stormwater fees Tuesday.

A five-year projection of residential water rates provided to commissioners, with the example of 4,500 gallons per month, shows how the bills will increase. A resident using 4,500 gallons of water per month currently pays about $11.81 for water. That will increase to $15.08. It will go up to $15.91 in 2010 and to $16.78 in 2011. In 2012, the rate will increase to $17.71 and increase again to $18.68 in 2013.

Those amounts include only water usage, not sewer, sewer improvement, stormwater and trash, which also are on the city bill.

At current rates, a resident using 4,500 gallons of water per month pays about $45.80 for the total bill, including water, sewer, sewer improvement, stormwater and trash. With the increases this year, the total bill will go to $50.85. In 2010, the total bill will increase to $53.46, and in 2011, the bill will go to $55.61. In 2012, the bill will increase to $57.88 and in 2013, the bill will increase to $60.27.

The increase will take effect in 30 days, or about mid-February, said City Attorney Carol Lahman. The base rate was last increased in 2006, and the consumption rate was most recently increased in 2000.

The increase was based on a water rate study by C.H. Guernsey Co. That analysis shows projected water use growth at 1.25 percent per year for commercial and 1.35 percent per year for residential. Among the variables studied are development of a new wellfield, possible construction of a lake near Hennessey, obtaining water by pipeline from Kaw Lake, construction of a smaller lake near Lahoma and negotiating with Oklahoma City for water rights in Canton Lake.

Among the recommendations are new and replacement water wells, nitrate removal and fire flow improvements.

Karl Stickley, of C.H. Guernsey, recommended money from water rate increases be used for a number of projects, including replacing the 30-inch transmission line from the Ames field, water meter replacement and install an emergency backup to the Ames plant.

During discussion, commissioners disagreed on the size of the water rate increase. Ward 2 Commissioner Don Rose said 5.5 percent was too high.

“We’re at a break-even point and these are drastically more than we talked about. The reality is we’re going to have to raise rates ... these look too big,” Rose said.

Ward 5 Commissioner Daron Rudy said the city has refinanced and stretched things out and still has not paid for the city water system, which is now beginning to deteriorate.

“We have to repair and maintain that system, and either we do it right or we will play catch up. It makes sense to start looking ahead,” he said.

Ward 6 Commissioner Todd Ging brought his own water bill, showing he used 7,000 gallons of water and his bill will increase $9.28.

Interim finance director Joan Riley told commissioners the 5.5 percent water rate increase will pay for a new well field but will not pay for construction of a lake.

Most Enid users are in the 4,000 to 6,000 gallon per month range, said City Manager Eric Benson. Ward 4 Commissioner Loyd Kaufman said he suggested a higher rate the last time they were increased to build a “nest egg.”

“We’re doing repairs and costing money, but we don’t have the money to do it right,” he said.

The motion to increase water rates was approved with Rose dissenting.

Earlier in the evening commissioners approved increases to stormwater development fees, which are paid by developers and not residents and to stormwater utility fees. The stormwater utility fee will increase 50 percent, from $2 to $3 effective March 1 and another 33.6 percent in March 2010.

Also during their meeting, commissioners named Eli Berry to fill the Ward 3 seat vacated by Larry Dillon. Berry will serve until a new commissioner is seated in May.

Lewis Blackburn, Boomer Appleman and M. Ivan Dickey filed for the seat last month. The election will be Feb. 10, with a runoff in April, if needed. Dillon resigned his seat when he accepted a job as McLoud city manager.