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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Standing guard ... City gears up for hearings on future growth ... Medford School District on the hunt for teachers ... Standing guard ... City gears up for hearings on future growth ... Medford School District on the hunt for teachers ... TALENT Water rate increases called for in state of city speech Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 5, 2015 at 6:12 PM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 5, 2015 at 6:12 PM » Social News Residents haven’t seen water rate increases for seven years, but they are necessary now, Talent Mayor Darby Stricker said in her State of the City address at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. Medford Water Commission has raised wholesale rates to the city five times during that time, but those have not been passed along to consumers. Upcoming needs for water system maintenance will also require more revenue. “We have been deferring maintenance for years,” Stricker said during a council water rate discussion. “Fee structure is a very tender button in this town.” Council directed city staff to do research on how to finance water operations and to schedule a study session. A public hearing would be held on any rate increases. “We are just not keeping up with funding ourselves going forward,” said City Manager Tom Corrigan. Talent’s booster pump station needs $17,000 in upgrades this year. Through 2045, upgrades for the station are estimated at $282,000. The station also has $9,400 in annual operating costs. The city, Ashland and Phoenix also pay maintenance and operation costs to Medford Water Commission for a regional pumping station. Total station cost through 2045 is estimated at $611,000, with Talent paying one-third. Use of money from contingency funds for some water system expenses should be explored, Stricker said. Corrigan had noted that favorable refinancing of water system bonds had allowed contingency funds to grow. A system in which increases would be passed along regularly rather than having users face large jumps should be studied, Corrigan suggested. City Council adopted that approach with Recology for waste and recycling bills in 2012. Stricker summarized city department achievements and highlighted several initiatives in her speech. “Talent parks are at an amazing level for a city our size,” said Stricker. She later praised volunteers for helping with parks and many other city projects, calling them a “backbone.” Construction of a new community center this summer will allow Town Hall, the former community center building, to be rejuvenated. “We look forward to bringing back some of the historic qualities of this 116-year-old gem,” said Stricker. Finances for the city are sound, the mayor said. City contingency funds total $1.7 million. In addition, unappropriated end fund balances for departments are 10 percent. Debt is four percent of the budget total, which is $11,158,000 for the current fiscal year. Most of the debt is from water system bonds. In other business, the council: Approved Adroit Construction’s low bid of $1,306,900 to build the federally funded community center. The city will negotiate with Adroit on options to eliminate so the project comes in under the $1.2 million available. Work is required to be done by Sept. 25. Bids received from five firms for the 5,000-square-foot building ranged up to $1,528,780. Granted a Parks and Recreation Commission request to use $15,000 set aside as a potential grant match to finish a trail in Chuck Roberts Park. The city was unsuccessful in obtaining a state recreational trails grant for a larger trail loop system. Tony Boom is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach him at [email protected] By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 5, 2015 at 6:12 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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