Bryson City residents, businesses shocked by steep water rate increase - WLOS

Bryson City residents, businesses shocked by steep water rate increase

BRYSON CITY, N.C. (WLOS) — Bryson City merchants and residents are in shock over their latest water bills, and some businesses are wondering if they will be able to stay open.

Critical infrastructure upgrades are a key reason for the new rate, but talks are ongoing to see if it can be softened.

The new Bryson City water rates went into effect with the start of the new fiscal year. Many business owners and residents were caught by surprise.

Mike Shakar, who runs the Everett Street Diner, expects rates to bump up.

“A reasonable person might think 20%-30%,” he said.

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But he was caught off-guard when the latest bill came out to $1,285.

He knew that adjusting the billing cycle would add a few days to the month, but he broke down his daily costs.
It ended up being about a 233% increase. No one was prepared for this kind of an increase," he said. "For some businesses, it might be too much. They may not be able to get through paying this water bill, paying themselves, paying their employees and continuing to do business.”

Shakar is concerned about residents, too.
There's a lot of fixed-income people... What are the choices they have now? 'Pay my water bill? Pay rent?'

Several merchants and residents took their concerns to the Board of Aldermen.

“The State of North Carolina wants you to have an enterprise water system where your water and sewer system is self-funding,” said Alderman Tim Hines.

Critical infrastructure needs have played into the stiff rate hike. Hines says that expanding the town's water and sewer plant is at a critical stage.

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“Initially, it was a $25 million project of which we were looking like we'd probably get about $17 million in grants, which means unless we find ways to bring it down even more, we're looking at an $8 million loan,” Hines said.

The town is also looking at other infrastructure problems like pipes – some of them made of clay.
There's some other areas where we've got infrastructure from the '60s that if it fails, the consequences of that failure are pretty severe," said Bryson City Public Works Director Nate Bowe.

Hines says communicating the situation clearly to the public was not perfect.
We're learning from mistakes and trying to find new ways to communicate,” said Hines.

Shakar says he is not blaming town leaders.

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“A group of us merchants are trying to help this town board, town aldermen to – Let's try to work together. Let’s try to figure out another option,” he said.

Hines says the board is working overtime to do just that and is inviting the public to a town forum later this month.
We're investigating everything we can using every resource we can to come up with a different solution that would soften the blow,” Hines said.

That public forum will take place Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Swain County Administration Building.