The Baldwin City Council is looking to raise the price of hooking up to their water system.
Leaders say the increase in fees is needed due to changes in federal regulations that restrict what types of metal can be used in pipes and other parts. “The no-lead rule in anything to do with water systems has driven the price up,” explains Baldwin Public Works director Scott Barnhart. “A part that was $8 a couple years ago is now $28 or $30 because they can’t have lead.”
The current Baldwin tap fee for any size meter is a flat $1200 to cover parts and labor. Barnhart says that no longer reflects what the parts actually cost.
City Council on Monday will consider a new fee structure. The price for a water hook-up at a regular single family home in the city (¾’’ Meter) would remain at $1200. Larger sizes, those used for larger construction and commercial/industrial builds, would cost more – $1950 (1’’Meter) and $3500 (2” Meter).
The cost for sewer hook-up would be $1200.
All quoted prices are for locations inside the City of Baldwin barring any additional cost due to installs requiring work under roads or driveways. Fees for locations outside the city are higher.
Baldwin Post 3 Councilman Joe Elam summed it up, “This represents maintaining the same price for households going forward but adding a more appropriate fee for the bigger more expensive jobs.”
The change in tap fees is set for discussion when Baldwin City Council meets on Monday, April 13 in the Municipal Courtroom at the Police Department, 155 Willingham Ave at 6:30PM.
