Amador County - The Jackson City Council approved a motion Monday night to raise water and sewer rates. Beginning in September of 2007, a water and sewer committee composed of members from the community and Jackson government discussed how rates were being adjusted and whether they were proportional to costs being passed on to the city as a wholesale water purchaser. Jackson purchases its water wholesale from the Amador Water Agency. The committee concluded that in order to stay in the black, rates would have to go up and costs would be passed on to the consumer. “It’s never exciting to have to raise rates, but we have always tried to keep them as low as possible,” said City manager Mike Daly. Water rates will go up 14 percent. Wastewater compliance efforts with the Department of Fish and Game have put the city in an operating deficit. As a result, wastewater costs will go up 16 percent. Both these rate adjustments are an average increase of $3.82 a month. February 1st marks the beginning of the next billing cycle and the increase. Amador Water Agency Board member Bill Condrashoff was in attendance and spoke during public comment. “ He said the new board will “keep it out of the double digit increases we’ve seen for the last couple years,” adding “keep your fingers crossed, we might be able to stop the bleeding.” “We’re hoping water agencies can get some of these grants that President Obama is trying hard to push through,” he said. An elderly resident of the Rollingwood park community voiced the sole public opposition to the increase, saying that many of the fixed income seniors who live there are already facing high fees they can’t afford. The City Council approved the rate increases 4 to 1, with Councilmember Marilyn Lewis opposed “on behalf of the residents of Rollingwood.” Story by Alex Lane