M'burgh May Increase Water Rates to Pay for Repairs, Leaks

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh village officials will hold a public hearing next month on increasing the water overage fee.

The proposed increase would hike the overage fee from $3 per $1,000 gallons to $5.50 per 1,000 gallons. Despite the increase, the village would still have the lowest water rates in Schoharie County.

The public hearing is slated for the village's next meeting on on Monday, June 2.

Having the lowest rates in the county has its good points but is putting the village behind, Mayor Tim Knight said. The extra income is desperately needed, he added.

If approved, the water rate hike would provide the Village Water Department with a projected extra $20,000 to $25,000 per year, which would be used to purchase new water meters, continue the Lead Service Line inventory, and defray the costs of water line breaks and repairs, Mayor Knight said.

The village was able to purchase three palettes of new, computerized water meters using ARPA Covid funding, but only six water meters remain, and three are scheduled to be installed this week.

The current overage charge of $3 per is well behind the other villages in the county, Mayor Knight noted Monday night.

According to Mayor Knight, Cobleskill charges $10 per 1,000 gallons over the minimum usage, Richmondville charges $8.29 per 1,000 gallons over the minimum charge, Schoharie charges $5.70 per 1,000 gallons over the minimum, and Sharon Springs charges $7,83 per 1,000 gallons over the minimum.

"We're really behind the curve," the Mayor said.

At first, Mayor Knight suggested increase the overage fee to $5 per 1,000 gallons over the minimum 10,000 gallons, but Trustee Bob Tinker said that $5.50 was "a better choice" and would still be the lowest in the county. Other board members said $5.50 per 1,000 gallons was fair. A resident suggested hiking the overage fee to $6 per 1,000 gallons, but the board did not entertain that rate.

Some of the village's 555 users go over the minimum 10,000 gallons, but the vast majority stay under the minimum, Mayor Knight said.

Very few people go over 10,000 gallons, Trustee Tinker said. He added that he does not go over 10,000 gallons but if he watered his lawn and garden he might.