At least 30 residents from neighborhoods on Valparaiso’s north side addressed the Valparaiso Lakes Area Conservancy District Board Wednesday, urging water officials to discuss a plan to lower rates by allowing the city of Valparaiso to provide water services.
The residents, who live in Blackhawk, Burlington Beach, Edgewater, Hillcrest, Walden, Wild Rose and Woodmere neighborhoods, also had a petition with more than 200 signatures.
“I know there are some strong feelings in the community about recent changes with water rates, and the board understands these concerns,” said Christian Anderson, chair of the VLACD, during a statement read at the start of the 50-minute meeting.
“Our responsibility is to run the Valparaiso Lakes Area Conservancy District fairly, legally and responsibly, and that means making decisions that keep our water systems safe, reliable and financially sound. Sometimes those decisions are difficult, but every dollar collected stays right here to improve our own system.”
The concerned residents who attended Wednesday’s meeting, led by Stu Summers of “It’s the Same Water Coalition,” said they represent a population of approximately 1,200 residents who “are now being asked to pay municipal water rates that are the second highest in the state of Indiana.”
“On average, each household will pay $200 more annually than surrounding communities in Valparaiso,” Summers said.
“We just want clarity and a resolution for equitable billing to get answers from the board about the sudden price hike and to have the distribution of water transferred to the city of Valparaiso, eliminating the disparity in rates.”
The group has also indicated that there are impacted residents who are financially challenged and that an increased bill will cause a much heavier burden for them.
Taylor Burkholder, who just moved to her home in the area five months ago, said she noticed the sharp increase in her water rate during the summer.
“We previously lived in houses that were under the jurisdiction of the city of Valparaiso, and they never charged us for water that we hadn’t used,” Burkholder said.
“I understand the VLACD has heavy responsibilities for repairs and upkeep, but that’s why it would be better for our areas to be part of the Valparaiso Water Department, since the city has more resources. Are you, the board, interested in selling (water operations) to the city? If so, I’ll call the mayor tonight. And if the mayor and city said yes, would you agree?”
Anderson, speaking on behalf of the board, said, “I can’t answer that question.”
Burkholder reminded the board that “47% of the students who attend Flint Lake School are on free or reduced price lunches.”
“We are talking about these same families here in our neighborhoods who need that extra money in their pockets,” Burkholder said.
Several residents asked the same question: “Why do our neighborhoods have to purchase water via the Valparaiso Lakes Area Conservancy District rather than directly under the larger umbrella opportunity of the city of Valparaiso?”
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Alicia Barber, general manager of the VLACD, said the answer to the residents’ shared question is because of an existing contract.
“My only answer is because we are under a contract for 50 years, which dates back to 1976 with the VLACD,” Barber said.
“There were several attempts in the 1980s and 1990s when we investigated other options. And our current contract with Valparaiso (as a water supplier) does not have an expiration date.”
The coalition group said their next step will be to take their petition directly to the administration for the city of Valparaiso “to encourage the start of dialogue.”
“Fair is fair,” Summers said.
“We all live in the same city and should be charged the same for our water delivery services. After all, it’s the same water. Although $200 may not seem like a lot, for some, it can be the difference between services rendered or a cut-off notice.”
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.