NEW: Caron, “surprised and disappointed” Utility Board wouldn’t let her speak at meeting (Audio)
January 29, 2021
Mike Tanner
WATERTOWN, S.D.–The city of Watertown will soon be implementing a storm water utility fee on its residents.
It’s expected to cost the typical residential homeowner about three dollars a month.
The city has been in talks with Watertown Municipal Utilities (WMU) about adding that fee onto a residents’ monthly utility bill. But when Mayor Sarah Caron appeared at Thursday’s Utility Board meeting to give a presentation on that idea, she was denied the opportunity to speak, and she’s not happy about it…
The mayor tells KWAT News Director Mike Tanner the city will proceed with the storm water utility fee, but the billing will show up on a reisdents’ annual property tax bill, and not on their monthly utility bill….
Caron says that’s not her first choice on how to do the billing…
When KWAT News asked the mayor about the working relationship between City Hall and the Utility Board, she described something far from a strong bond……..
KWAT News also reached out for reaction from WMU General Manager Steve Lehner…
Although Caron says this new storm water utility fee is just that, a fee not a tax, Lehner gave KWAT News a different response…
Lehner says had Municipal Utilities been the billing entity for the storm water fee, they likely would have had to hire another staff person to take on the additional workload.
