Grosse Pointe Woods Council to Approve Water/Sewage Rate Increase

A 10.28 percent increase in combined water and sewer rates for residents will translate into about $78 more annually for the average household. 

The Woods council will officially vote on the increase during it's June 20 council meeting but during a work session Monday they unanimously approved a recommendation for its passage. 

Billing for water and sewer is done in two month increments, which means a typical user will see about a $12.50 increase per billing cycle. 

Councilman Kevin Ketels noted what a drastic increase the proposed amount seems to be but was reassured by the city engineer Jim Rabine that it accounts for the costs anticipated for the next year as well as some of the infrastructure maintenance. 

Grosse Pointe Woods is similar to other suburbs of Detroit also on the Detroit water system in that rates are climbing. In Grosse Pointe Park, there has been some talk of entertaining the idea to build a water plant to serve Park residents to eliminate the seemingly endless fluctuation in pricing by Detroit.

Detroit changed its fee schedule to better meet the financial burden of operating the system--a fixed cost. Water consumption fluctuates, however, and when communities are consciously using less water the fee schedule in the past has not always been enough to cover the operation, according to many officials.

The new rate, assuming it's passed during the next Grosse Pointe Woods council meeting, will take effect July 1, which coincides with the new fiscal year. 

Woods officials previously met with Rabine to determine what caused the rate hike after initially receiving notice of it. The first water rate was 18.2 percent, which council members baulked at, sending a letter to Detroit officials demanding an explanation. They were the highest of the three Grosse Pointes on Detroit's system.

Council members were satisfied Monday with the final combined rate.