Scotts Hill residents pay 73 percent more for water
This video is no longer available.
SCOTTS HILL, Tenn — As of Tuesday, the water bills for families in Scotts Hill have almost doubled. Town officials unanimously approved new water rates last month, raising them 73 percent. Mayor Jessie Powers says it affects him just like everyone else. “I don’t like it [any] more than anyone else, but it has to be done,” Mayor Powers said. “I have to pay my bill just like everybody else.” The mayor says the increase is necessary because the town is more than $1 million in debt, due to what he calls previous mismanagement. Powers says the new revenue will allow the town to rebuild infrastructure. “The water maintenance, we got leaks to fix,” Mayor Powers said. “We’ve got lines right here in town that need to be updated.” New fire hydrants have already begun showing up in the town — a sign of the upgrades. Scotts Hill resident Sue Ivey says the new rates are just too much. “Well I’m not to happy about it,” Ivey said. “My bill is $66.81 and that’s too much.” Doris Buck lives on a street that just received new water lines. She says it’s been a long time coming. “I’m not upset about it like everybody else it,” Buck said. “You have to pay for services and it’s been a long time since we’ve had a rate increase.” To put it in perspective, residents who paid $30 last month will now pay about $51 if they live inside Henderson County, and $65 if they live in Decatur County. “I don’t want to see the little town get in bad shape,” Mayor Powers said. “We’re going to have to wake up and live within our means.” Mayor Powers also said improvements to water tanks and their treatment plant will also take place. Powers said this is the first water rate increase in almost 15 years.
