Kisselbaugh posed this question at the Dec. 3 Russellville Council Meeting. "Do we even have a rate yet?" asked Kisselbaugh.
CIMA financial administrator Keith Batchelor answered Councilman Kisselbaugh by saying that an extensive rate study has just begun with Ky Rural Water-- who was hired by LTRWC to help involved entities complete a basic study.
"Russellville will need to do an extensive rate study because they haven't had one since 1999," said Batchelor, "and that study should be complete in a couple of weeks."
With the completion of the multi-million dollar water project nearing (February)-- which will see water being pumped from the Cumberland River to a state-of-the-art water facility in Guthrie and then dispersed among the two counties. some communities involved-- including Oak Grove-- are getting a little skirmish about rates.
According to an article written in the Kentucky New Era, leaders of Oak Grove-- one of the seven cities lined up to receive LTRW-- have expressed in council meetings their concern about rates and have even discussed a possible pull-out, considering reentering into discussion about going with a lower per gallon offer from water supplier (HWEA).
This action is being criticized however, by their own mayor, Jean Leavell-- who is a member of the Logan/Todd commission and who was not reelected to continue as Oak Grove's mayor in January.
The controversy comes from a $1-million-dollar state loan that was obtained by the city to complete a pipe line hook-up to LTRW, said an article in the New Era. If the city tries to escape its membership with LTRW, it will most certainly have to repay the grant.
The latest figure coming across the board from LTRWC is $2.91 per 1,000 gallons. The estimates went up as the cost of the project rose.
No one is debating the quality of LTRW water; in fact, it is being said that this water will perhaps be the best in the state. The question seems to be: Can we afford it?
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