Category Archives: Lakeside

City Manager Recommends Curtailing
New Water Hook-ups

City Manager, David Hawker released a memo to City Council about water service in which he recommended that Council consider a policy that refuses any new service in the UGB outside the City. As justification for the recommendation he states that on Devils Lake,

“Over many years, including before Lincoln City was incorporated, this policy allowed about 700 homes to develop in the Devil’s Lake watershed without sewer service or any plan for it. Most of this development occured outside the City (though some of it has been annexed). The result is substantial pollution of the lake, and no provision to replace with sewer, no end in sight.”

He does not provide any proof or eleaborate in any way in support of his claim that the provision of water to homes on Devils Lake has substantially polluted the lake.  He continues to discuss issues in providing water to Schooner Creek and Drift Creek areas.

Hawker closed the memo by stating that he is “not urging any immediate change, only to initiate a discussion. There are many issues, and
any policy change needs to examine them carefully.”

Lincoln City officials have taken another step toward the eventual annexation of the Roads End area.  Over the past several months the City as been collecting consent to annex contracts from local residents as a requirement to continued water service.  Faced with the specter of an uninhabitable house enough signatures have been obtained for the City to claim a majority of homeowners and assessed value.  After removing several large undeveloped parcels from the area consider for annexation, the City was also able to claim a majority of land area satisfying the triple majority rule.

City Manager, David Hawker sent a letter to Roads End residents announcing the City’s intention to move forward with annexation and describes the changes that residents might expect.  He indicated that water service will now be consider permanent.  He explained that their streets will be placed in the transportation plan and made it clear that residents should not anticipate gravel roads to be paved as a result of annexation.  Water and sewer rates will be cut in half.  All homes in the Road End area will not be included in the City’s property tax base.  Additionally the City’s 5% franchise fee will be added to all utilities not provided by the City. Vacation Rentals will be required to comply with the City’s VRD rules and pay a 9.5% room tax.  The City also circulated a survey to ask for Roads End residents input.

Lincoln City Councilors, on a 4-2 split, approved raising sewer and water rates in Lincoln City effective July 1st. The increase for water is, on average, 6%, while the increase for sewer is around 4%.

The council also approved a provision that allows the city to charge a higher rate in the summer when water use peaks and costs are higher due to higher pumping and water treatment operations.

But overall, City Manager David Hawker says the annualized increases should not exceed 6% for water, 4% for sewer.  See complete article at News Lincoln County.com.  The typical residential base service charge for water will be $18.72 in the city and $ 39.70 outside the city, Sewer rates will be  $19.90 and  $39.81 respectively.