Amador County – The Amador Water Agency has called a special meeting for its board of directors Monday to host a workshop for potential water and wastewater rate increases that could affect about 1,250 customers in 4 different service areas. AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie said Thursday that the meeting is preliminary to rate increases that staff will recommend. Abercrombie said the May 4th meeting is “just a workshop for the board to understand the cost and revenue issues that have caused the need to do rate increases.” The meeting will discuss how much of a rate increase is recommended, along with when the last rate increase occurred in each service area. He said: “Some of these we haven’t had rate increases for 3 years.” Abercrombie said “after workshop, the board will give us authorization to send out notices for the public to attend a (public hearing at a) board meeting” to discuss the rate increases. He said that would be a public hearing for a rate increases as required under Proposition 218. The documents would be mailed to customers giving notice of a public meeting, which would occur 45 days after the notice. Board President Terence Moore called the special meeting for the AWA workshop, set for 10 a.m. Monday, May 4th at the AWA office conference room, at 12800 Ridge Road in Sutter Creek. The water and wastewater rate workshop will discuss impacts on about 1,250 customers. That includes about 600 water service customers in Lake Camanche Water Improvement District Number 7. The workshop also will discuss wastewater rates for roughly 300 customers in Lake Camanche Water Improvement District Number 11. The workshop will also discuss another 300 customers served by Wastewater Improvement District Number 1, in Pine Grove, Gayla Manor, Surrey Junction and some other small areas. The discussion will also discuss potential rate changes for about 50 water customers in the La Mel Heights Water District. Abercrombie said “In the workshop, it will show the financial plan but it will also show what the current rate is and what the proposed rate will be for 3 years.” He said it was typical to get rate increase in 3-year plans. The rates may or may not change equally over the 3-year increments. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.