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Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 28, 2016 12A Water rates will change for FC RV park State law regarding recreational vehicles prompts city to review how Green Haven RV Park residents pay for service By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer FALLS CITY — Residents of Green Haven RV Park may soon see an increase in what they pay for water. In November, the Falls City City Council requested a review of water usage at the park, which has 30 recre- a t i o n a l ve h i c l e s p a c e s served by water, a restroom, an office and a manufac- tured home onsite. The city has considered the residents in the park as temporary and were re- quired by the city to move every six months, but state law states otherwise. The law (ORS 197.493) says “local governments may not prohibit the place- ment or occupancy of a recreational vehicle, impose any limit on the length of occupancy of a recreational vehicle” if it is in a mobile home or RV park and served by water, sewer and electric- ity. All three of those utilities are available at Green Haven, 200 Church St. Mayor Terry Ungricht la- beled the status as “non- temporary.” “It’s weird,” Ungricht said. “If you have a site that has a permanent water, sewer and electric hook up, they are no longer considered tempo- rary under state law. They don’t designate them as per- manent, but they are saying that we cannot require them to move. They basically be- come permanent residents.” Currently, the park is on one meter and billed for a 2- inch water line at the com- mercial rate, averaging about $243.54 per month in 2015. The city used the 2015 number for comparison be- cause the park has a water leak in 2016 thar significant- JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer The city of Falls City may negotiate a new way of charging residents of Green Haven RV Park in Falls City for water service. City councilors at the Dec. 8 expressed support for charging the residential rate in the park. ly increased usage. In 2016, the average monthly bill was $551.59. Ungricht said other multi- unit complexes in town with one meter are typically charged with a “multiplier,” meaning each unit is charged a base rate for serv- ice and overage fees for any usage more than 5,000 gal- lons per month. “They are getting a real big break on their water,” Un- gricht said. “It’s a tough one. I think that they are definitely taking of advantage of other customers on the system.” During a discussion on Dec. 8, the council directed Ungricht to begin negotia- Water use at Green Haven RV Park Total usage Monthly average Total Charges Monthly charges 2015 578,000 48,167 $2992.48 $243.54 2014 646,000 53,833 $3,059.46 $254.96 2013 409,000 34,083 $2,208.65 $184.05 tions with the park to change the way it is billed to match what other users on the system pay. He proposed several pos- sible solutions, but the council chose to propose charging each unit served with water the residential base rate. That rate is $41.96 per month plus any overage costs for usage of more than 5,000 gallons. That would mean a $1,258.80 base rate if all 30 spots were full. “I’ve talked to a lot of peo- ple. and everybody that I’ve talked to feels the same,” Councilor Tony Meier said. “If you move one of those trail- ers out of there and you put it on a lot out here, they would pay the basic bill no matter what they use. Being that he now has 30 permanent spots, he (park owner Richard Bow- man) should be (paying) the equivalent for that.” Councilor Dennis Sickles wanted to make sure the city notified Bowman, before changing the rates. “I agree it needs to the be fair and equitable to every- one else in this community,” Sickles said. Councilor Jenn Drill sug- gested that the city could phase in the increase, charg- ing the park for just half the sites for six months and begin charging for all of them after that. “That way it is not such a shocker,” she said. Green Haven resident Tamara Herren works part- time in the park office. She said there may be no way to avoid sticker shock for some residents. “I can understand that water rates need to be raised,” she said. “As a mem- ber of the park, I know this is going to be a problem for the owner.” She said Bowman has tried to keep rents as low as possible and hasn’t raised them in years. “He’s going to have to now,” she said. Bowman said a prelimi- nary meeting with city staff indicated water rates could double or triple. With resi- dents moving in and out of the park frequently, it would be difficult to track how many spots to charge each month, he added. Bowman said he couldn’t comment further as he plans to fight the increase legally. Ungricht said once a new rate structure for the park has been established, he will bring it before the council for final approval. The Itemizer-Observer would like to wish you a Happy New Year!
