Whitehouse, Troup approve interlocal water agreement

Troup city council members gave their approval to an interlocal agreement with the City of Whitehouse for the joint reservation of water rights from Lake Striker during a special called meeting Tuesday night.

Whitehouse city council had previously given the okay to the proposal, and City Manager Ronny Fite was present at the Troup city council meeting to answer questions about the contract.

Under terms of the contract, Whitehouse is reserving the rights to 3.9 million gallons of water per day from Lake Striker, and Troup is securing one million gallons from Whitehouse. The annual cost to Whitehouse is $150,000 for a term of 10 years, with Troup paying Whitehouse $37,500.

The Troup city council was scheduled to consider the water option contract last Thursday, but did not have a quorom present. That same night, they heard a presentation from consultant Dan Jackson, who laid out a five-year plan to increase the city's water rates and fees.

The rate hike is necessary to pay for the Lake Striker contract, as well as an anticipated $2 million capital improvements project to the city's current water system. The city currently spends more providing water than it receives in fees.

In order to raise rates by March 1, council must have an ordinance ready for its February meeting. Members are favoring an inverted block scenario that would give lower rates to customers who use less water. The major impact of this rate would be on high-volume users.

Under that proposal, a customer using less than 5,000 gallons a month would see a $3 increase in the monthly bill; a 10,000-gallon customer's bill would increase by $5, and a 20,000-gallon one by $28.