Hollister residents will see significant increases to their water bills over the next five years after the council Monday gave final, unanimous approval to rate hikes. Before that vote, some residents shared strong views in opposition, one council member called a critique from the public “B.S.”, and the vice mayor acknowledged that he regularly drinks ancient, pure water from McAlpine Lake.
Hollister residents will see significant increases to their water bills over the next five years after the council Monday gave final, unanimous approval to rate hikes.
Before that vote, some residents shared strong views in opposition, one council member called a critique from the public “B.S.”, and the vice mayor acknowledged that he regularly drinks ancient, pure water from McAlpine Lake.
The new rate hikes in the Hollister and Sunnyslope water districts will pay for $30 million in capital costs and millions more – the county water district is throwing in $10 million in upfront cash – in ongoing maintenance on a series of projects. Those projects have goals of removing contaminants, lowering salt content and appeasing state regulators who have threatened major fines against the city for failing to meet quality standards.
For about eight years, officials with area governments have been devising the Hollister Urban Area Water Project. It includes several infrastructure upgrades – including a new West Hills Treatment Plant to target improvements on the city’s west side – meant to bring the community in line with state and federal standards, primarily those related to disinfection byproducts and carcinogens as laid out in federal legislation, the Safe Drinking Water Act.
After years of discussions among officials and the recent majority protest process – most property owners had to send letters of opposition to the city in order to reject the increases – residents and council members had one last chance to share their feelings on the project.
And those feelings remained strong, despite the city receiving just 229 protest letters.
Project consultant Harry Blohm indicated he had been offended by criticism over his dissemination of project details to the public. He explained that for years, council members and other officials had been involved in talks regarding the project.
It was in recent months, though, when officials announced the prospective rate increases, which sparked public opposition.
He said officials did try to ward off state regulators, and pointed to San Juan Bautista’s annual $136,000 fine for failing to meet water standards.
“That’s a lot of money per year for 700 connections,” Blohm said. “You have almost 6,000 connections. It’s very expensive not to meet state regulations.”
He said some communities insist on fighting regulations.
“At the end of the day, there’s some you will not be able to win,” he said, pointing to “one of them” being disinfection byproducts.
Still, some residents were not satisfied with the explanation on why the project is so expensive, causing the rate hikes.
County Republican Party Chairman Robert Bernosky was among the few speakers who talked during a continued public hearing, from Aug. 5. He said residents are “getting taxed and fee’d to death” and that families here are “broke.”
“People are telling stories that these water increases are the straw that’s breaking their back,” Bernosky said. “The water districts here don’t seem to care. I want you to care. They (ratepayers) are hurting and they are mad.”
Bernosky said he went to the Sunnyslope Water District’s meeting on the water rate hikes where many residents voiced their views, but where the board members said nothing on the matter.
“How disrespectful,” Bernosky added.
Before their unanimous vote, Hollister council members responded to some of the criticisms. Councilman Victor Gomez was particularly taken aback by the notion that the council did “nothing” on the rate issue. He pointed out that he left his home at 7 a.m. for his full-time job, had a brief chance to see his family before the council meeting, and that he wouldn’t be home until 9:30 p.m.
“To be honest with you I think that’s a bunch of B.S., if you ask me,” Gomez said. “So thank you very much.”
Councilman Robert Scattini said Hollister had to pay for the upgrades or the city would “be like San Juan Bautista with a huge fine.” He went on to mention that he regularly drinks the ancient water tapped from the man-made McAlpine Lake near San Juan.
“It’s pure water from what I understand,” he said. “I like it.”
