Water Bills

JAN 8, 2023

They still can't get it right. Today we all received an email advising that our water rates where going up and winter averaging needed council approval. 

This is some of the poorest communication that we have seen from City Hall and Council to date. 

In todays email, they stated: 

Winter averaging for wastewater (sewer) charges is still being considered by City Council for approval to begin in Fall 2024 - Winter 2025. This method considers the amount of water used during the months of December, January and February. The single month with the highest water usage is discarded, and the average of the remaining three months is calculated and used as the basis for billing wastewater charges for the following 12-month period.

If City Council approves this method, customer water use in December 2023, January 2024 and February 2024 will be used to calculate future sewer charges beginning in October 2024.

Rates and Winter Averaging was approved  on DEC 2021. This was motioned by then Councilman Nick Stanley and second by Councilman Shane Davis. What was not decided was the number or months or what months would be averaged. See attached minutes from DEC 2021 council meeting and screenshot of the minutes in question. 

NOTE: According to the minutes - Winter averaging is supposed to begin OCT 1, 2024

No advance notice was given to the citizens about the rate increase. 

Todays notice is dated December 2023 but was sent January 8, 2024.

The above email that the city sent us is also incorrect. The language around the winter averaging is totally wrong and should not have gone out. DEC, JAN and FEB will be averaged. Sources have shared that City Hall said nothing about the highest month being dropped off. They also said that a corrected email will be sent out and new rates will be posted. 

Paper bills for DEC where mailed out JAN 02, 2024. 

With a little research on the Cities Website we found the NewGen Proposal which contains the new water and sewer rates, the minutes from the DEC 2021 council meeting, The notice that the previous administration posted in 2021 about the new water and sewer rates. 

All are included for your personal review below. If you want to know your new rates, take a look below. 

#DefendAledo #RulesForTheeAndNotForMe #RecallNickStanley