By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
RIVERVIEW – Residents here will soon see a spike in their water bills.
The City Council on Monday voted 6-1 in favor of a 23 percent increase for water and sewer rates beginning Sept. 1. Councilman James Trombley dissented.
Water rates will increase to $5.10 from $4.15 per thousand gallons; sewer rates will rise to $4.45 from $3.75 per thousand gallons and sewer debt rates will increase to $1.35 from $1.10 per thousand gallons. Meter charges will not change.
Mayor Tim Durand said the changes were necessitated by decreased usage and an increased costs for water and sewage from the city’s provider, Detroit Water and Sewage Department.
He said the city is seeking ways to combat rising water fees to residents by partnering with another city to distribute water. He said he spoke to city officials at Grosse Isle, Trenton and Wyandotte about the plan.
Trenton, he said, was under contract with DWSD until 2019, making them a less-than-desirable partner. Riverview’s contract ends next year. He said he intends to discuss the possibility further with Wyandotte.
“We don’t want to be a customer, Durand said. “We want to be a partner.”