By
Jon Mayhew (Lincolnton)
City leaders gave consent last
Thursday night for the City of
Lincolnton to join Lincoln County
in a joint water/sewer rate
study.
While no indication was given the
study would be used to determine
water rates, city leaders said
the information may be able to
help regarding water sales to
Lincoln County.
“It can be helpful to have
the model because we're a unique
water model,” said City
Manager Jeff Emory. “We're
about 80 percent commercial and
industrial.”
The county has already approved
their rate study. The last time
city leaders did a rate study was
several years ago according to
Emory.
“(The cost of the study was)
much higher than now,” said
Emory.
Council unanimously approved the
city to go ahead with the study.
Emory was able to negotiate the
company performing the study down
by about $8,000. Raftelis
Financial Consultants will
conduct the study and plan to
meet with city and county leaders
on March 1.
The study is expected to cost
around $32,000.
“We can change the scope of
water sales as we move
forward,” said Mayor John
Gilleland. “This study would
really help us.”
