Albion will raise water rates to towns

ALBION – The village of Albion is raising the water rates by 8 cents per 1,000 gallons to six towns that buy water from the village for water districts.

The new rate will increase 2.8 percent from $2.86 to $2.94. Albion hasn’t raised the rates to the towns in 11 years, Mayor Dean Theodorakos said.

The increase was intended to take effect Oct. 1, but the town of Barre said that didn’t meet the requirement of providing three months notice before a rate increase. Barre Town Supervisor Mark Chamberlain also asked for a meeting with village officials for an explanation about the rate hike.

“At this time, it does not seem feasible for the town to agree to the rate increase without more information and discussion,” Chamberlain wrote to the Village Board on Aug. 8.

The village faces equipment and facility upgrades at the water plant, which is prompting Albion to raise the rates by a modest amount, Trustee Kevin Sheehan said.

The board agreed to delay the rate increase until Jan. 1 for all of the towns it supplies with water. Theodorakos said the village will try to schedule a meeting with the officials from the towns to provide the village’s rationale for the increase. The village supplies water for districts in Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre, Ridgeway and Murray.