The Town of Moorcroft is once again looking at the water and sewer rate structure. The struggle that seems to keep the continuous conversation going is how to make it equitable but sustainable to the system for those who owner mobile home parks, apartments and motels. If you happen to have the following in your municipalities, would you please share your structure with me?
*Mobile home parks that have one meter that services multiple spaces. Apartment buildings that have the same situation.*
*Investment or service availability fees…how do you charge yours? Is the charge different if the house is vacant or occupied?
*Are there discounts for those with one meter servicing multiple spaces?
*Any residential homes that have two different occupants (like a basement rented out). Any difference in the charges? We hear “well if you are going to charge us, what about the person that has someone renting their basement…still one meter?”
*Motel that has been converted to studio apartments
I appreciate any input that you might share!
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*Mobile home parks that have one meter that services multiple spaces. The Town of Encampment has one mobile home park serviced this way. Each mobile home pays the base rate for a residence in Encampment and there is a multiplier on the main meter consumption to calculate the base gallons allowed before entering the tier.
Apartment buildings that have the same situation.* Apartments get a full residential bill for each unit.
*Investment or service availability fees…how do you charge yours?
Is the charge different if the house is vacant or occupied? Our ordinances are written such that each residence base the base rates regardless of occupancy. No breaks for seasonal residents. This is not popular, but that seasonal resident has no less expectation that the water and wastewater systems are maintained and should pay the base rates regardless.
*Are there discounts for those with one meter servicing multiple spaces? No.
*Any residential homes that have two different occupants (like a
basement rented out). Any difference in the charges? We hear “well
if you are going to charge us, what about the person that has someone
renting their basement…still one meter?” If a property owner has established a stand-alone residence within their house, they pay a full residential bill and the existing meter has a multiplier added for calculation of consumption, or a second meter is installed at their cost. The primary residence will get a larger bill if the secondary residence overuses water. We would not outright allow this circumstance anymore. However, we a couple of grandfathers issues.
*Motel that has been converted to studio apartments. If a motel converted to apartments, each unit would get a full residential bill. We have one that has done that and the water meter and multiplier are on the main unit and we send them a bill for full residential bill for all units. Again our ordinance is written such that each residence gets a bill.