GLOVERVILLE --- The Valley Public Service Authority met Monday night to discuss its recent negotiations with Avondale Mills on a possible takeover of the Graniteville water system.
Avondale, which oversees the system, has come under fire from Graniteville and Vaucluse residents as a water and sewer rate increase caused some bills to jump hundreds of dollars.
Calvin Smith, the general manager of the authority, said concerns over the cost of an overhaul have delayed agreement on a takeover. He said that if his authority took over the system it would want to replace the entire infrastructure, which he estimated could cost $9 million.
"We are considering it (a takeover)," Mr. Smith said, but added that six weeks of negotiations with Avondale have produced no agreement.
Although no vote was taken by the authority at Monday night's meeting, the gathering brought out some state legislators who favor a switch away from Avondale.
More than 100 concerned Graniteville residents also came to the meeting to voice their concerns over the recent water and sewer rate increase.
They were told that the meeting was not for public comment, and the authority went into a closed executive session after an attorney for the body said state law allowed it to do so.
State Rep. Roland Smith, R-Warrenville, state Sen. Shane Massey, a Republican whose 25th District includes Aiken, and state Rep. Tom Young, R-Aiken, spoke with residents and listened to their concerns before joining the authority in closed session.
Roland Smith said that they planned to "gently encourage" Valley Public Service to agree to run the Graniteville system.
Mr. Smith said Avondale has wanted to get out of the water-service business. Lately, though, Avondale's water service has become a heated topic. Water bills received by Graniteville and Vaucluse residents Friday reflected a much higher rate.
"This is just crazy," said Treye Sharpe, of Graniteville, who said his monthly bill increased from $72 to $597.
Roland Smith said Monday that he has been getting many calls from residents angry about the "astronomical" increase, adding that a takeover of the system by Valley Public Service "is the best resolution. It's a win-win for the community."
He said the hope is that Valley Public Service's rates wouldn't be as high as Avondale's. In the city of Aiken, water and sewer rates are much lower, with Aiken's monthly average at $34.22, according to Kimberly Abney, the city's director of finance.
Avondale's recent request for higher rates was made to South Carolina's Public Service Commission. At the time Avondale officials said that the rates hadn't changed in years and that they were not able to subsidize the cost of running the system after textile operations in the community were shut down.
Roland Smith said that Avondale officials had led him to believe that no one's bill would be higher than $71 a month. Now that he's seen much higher bills, "I think that's something we definitely need to have a discussion with Avondale about," he said.
After the closed session was over, Tom Young said that although no final decisions had been made, he felt the meeting had been "positive" and "productive."
A message left Monday for Stephen Felker Jr., the vice president of corporate development for Avondale Mills, wasn't immediately returned.
GRANITEVILLE MEETING
A community meeting to discuss the recent water and sewer rate increases in the Graniteville and Vaucluse communities will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Langley Church of God, 2444 Jefferson Davis Highway, Graniteville.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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The reporter does no one no good by putting anecdotes like the one about Treye Sharpe above - - anecdotes with no context. If Treye Sharpe got a $600 water bill, he used well over 50,000 gallons of water. What kind of business does he run to get a bill that high? A car wash? A large nursery? A fruit orchard? It would be better if the reporter would tell what the bill of a typical residence is and not a business using large amounts of water.
I read the first story about this and it said everyone's water in Granitville was raised by 700% !!! How in the world are they going to pay this kind of bill??? I am on city water; I know I couldn't afford to pay a bill that suddenly went up 700%. In my not-so-humble opinion, the entire city, businesses and the private sector should REVOLT and refuse to pay these exhorbitant bills....in other words, throw a "Granitville Tea Party" of sorts....that would get Avondale's attebtion for sure! I bet there would be adjustments made on water bills then if the ENTIRE city refused to pay Avondale. They are doing this because they think they can.
I have read Little Lambs comments over the weekend, and whoever they are keeps posting yet are obviously unaware of what actually is happening to RESIDENTS. When the meters where read for our house, we had been on vacation for 5 days that month.(so let's eliminate those days of usage) Normally, there are 4 within the household, but now 3, as our daughter is in another state. So...that is 3 baths or showers per day, 1 load of dishes packed in the dishwasher, and 1-2 loads of clothes. We use only short cycles for both. Add flushing of toilets. When we returned from vacation, we watered the grass and flowers 1 time, the day we returned. We have an above ground pool. I added a small amount to the pool do to evaporation. Our bills ran 20.00 in winter, 39.00 summers. The current bill is $245, stating we used 21000 gallons of water/sewage. NOW...here is the question. We are approx. 9 days in as of yesterday and 21 days left. My husband went out and read the meter. We have only used 3000 gallons! Average that out. That puts us anywhere from 8000-8500 PER month, and we have done NOTHING different. Also, there are vines and dirt over the meter. NO one has been at that meter for months!
Also...we have no leaks and I went to the high end 8000-8500 of what it could be on the next reading. Word to the wise...keep checking your meter reading throughout the month. Not only are the rates shot sky high, but the meter reading are also in question.
I have an empty apartment in graniteville and just have the water on in case I need it if I go over there. My bill went from $6/month to $36 a month and I haven't even used any water. It's totally ridiculous.
One only needs to look at the charge per 1000 gallons of water. For decades these Valley people only paid a fraction of the rate that those in Aiken, Augusta, Edgefield, or Columbia Cty did. Now they are having to pay for that. The current rate from Avondale is only about 2.5 times that of surrounding areas so it isn't some astronomical rate. If you received a $500 water bill then you are one wasteful person. That would translate to a $200 water anywhere else in the area so stop wasting water and take some accountability for yourself.
Oh please(The Ode). We personally have only lived in Graniteville 3 years. We lived in South Aiken, INSIDE city limits, inside a subdivision 6 years. In the summer we watered the grass and flowers almost everyday and at the time had 5 people in our house taking showers as the kids still lived at home and our highest bill hit 101.00 water/sewage WITH GARBAGE PICK UP. The average was 91.00 normally. And NO..a $500 may NOT be from "wasteful person". I know 1 widowed senior citizen female who is the only one at her house. Still works during the day. Does not water anything, no flowers, grass etc..she hasn't any leaks and takes care of her home repairs when they arise. Her bill was $400. I fear all you are doing is posting comments just to upset and anger and it really is tragic and sad to do this when there are a large percentage of seniors on fixed incomes that live here and have lived here all their lives. They are not watering lawns or fruit trees nor do the use excess water. For a single person who is never home during the day to get a $400-$500 water bill is literally impossible. Please refrain unless you now of which you speak. Rates are not the only issue at hand.
The rate is the rate is the rate. It is now $4.50 per 1000 gal of water. Prior to this it was $0.51. For Edgefield County it is $1.74, for Richmond County it is $1.79, and for Columbia County it is $1.90. Public hearings and mailings have alerted these people about this for months so it shouldn't come as a shock. You people were getting water much cheaper than average for decades and now you are having to pay for that. Perhaps Graniteville should have incorporated year ago and made its residents pay taxes for these services as well. Choices have consequences and no free lunch can go on forever without being paid for. Last I checked you are still free to move from Graniteville or dig a well.
wrong wrong wrong the rate is $23 for the first 1000 gallons and $11 for each 1000 gallons after that THE ODE just proved ksperringer's point! we pay sewer at $6.50 per 1000 gallons with the water no matter what and a $12 surcharge
Everbody else pays sewage based on water consumption too kimberly. Maybe you need to get out more. This isn't a conspiracy against da Valley. If you can read you will see I referenced water rates and water rates only. I never mentioned sewage rates. Stay with the program.
To Little Lamb my friend Mr. Sharpe is just a resident no business you should here about the bills a few of our more well known community members had $800 dollars hope the sheriff proves that as highway robbery!
Wow, your totally missing the point. This is more than a rate change issue. This is also a meter reading, or lack there of issue as well. You are spouting numbers, which we are totally aware of. As I stated...with our bill(and not the only one), we have a reading of 21000 which is $245. Our usage is the same as of right now this month meaning the same amount of clothes washed, etc. If it continues our usage this month will be around 8000-8500.(plus or minus) We are monitoring our meter. No one drops from 21000 to 8000 using the same amount of water. Our next bill, if all remains the same...should be approx 102.00, which is nuts since garbage isn't included, but an HONEST bill according to the rates posted.
I have the meeting letters that where sent by the way. They where canceled on more than 1 occasion, then finally held in Columbia. Most people WORK, seniors cannot go that far. Personally, I think it was intentionally moved to Columbia knowing there would be a lower turn out.
Again, I hear almost pleasure in your voice as you post. It is shameful when referring to seniors on fixed incomes who get $400 bills with little water usage. We are not seniors btw.
I meant that last post to The Ode BTW, ;)
kimberly - have you ever seen a house with a sewage meter that gets read by local municipality/water/sewer company? Of course people pay sewage based on their water consumption. I referenced WATER RATES. People in da Valley have been receiving water service from a private company well below actual cost for years. Residents didn't complain then. Choices have consequences. Perhaps you should have listened to warning of the rate increase of the past several months and moved or dug a well or incorporate and build your own water and sewage system like everybody else. Then again we have come to expect this type of whining from the entitlement crowd who can't take care of themselves and need the government to do that for them.
Those officials did not say anything about peoples' bills for this month. They should not have to pay them. This is an outrage.
OMG, I cannot even believe you said that. "whining from the entitlement crowd who can't take care of themselves and need the government to do that for them."
Ummm, what do you think? Because you live in the Valley or rather Graniteville you need government assistance? We chose to move here from South Aiken. We CHOSE to move to the Valley. We wanted out of the traffic mess. And we do not regret it at all.
Many work for Kimberly Clark...My neighbor is a registered nurse and teaches at Aiken Tech, across the street is an electrician..shall I continue...
Yes there are some in the area that have fell on harder times, the economy is a mess right now..however that statement ranks up there with DUH.
You are correct. You CHOSE to move to da Valley. So stop whining.
Kimberly, you can find the Augusta water & sewer rates at http://www.augustaga.gov/index.aspx?nid=775 and you can find the Columbia County water & sewer rates at http://www.columbiacountyga.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7565
I looked and I could not find the city of Aiken rates on line.
Thanks Little Lamb :)
Ok Little Lamb first assuming my meter is read monthly which i can absolutely promise you it isn't in Graniteville. They don't even drive company vehicles they drive their own and it's not to check meters it's to fix plumbing issues on the side. That said if my meter was accurate i would have payed $70 on Richmond County rates instead of 146 which is over double the cost of what Richmond county pays.
Say it out loud... INCORPORATION!
Ok back to the subject at hand which is definitely not incorporation cause that has by design of the fire chief written all over it do they include trash pickup with the water and sewer costs in Richmond county?
Once again i am noticing some misinformation about this subject. This site says we have a meeting scheduled for Thursday.Channel 12 said Tuesday which is it?
It was stated...they don't have the gas to run everywhere to check the meters. Heard that one this morning from a poster...Aiken Standard.
And, even if the incorporation issue came back to the table...it isn't solving the problem at hand right this moment.
That is something that would take months. Most people don't have that kind of time. The bills are here now...and until resolved or a solution can be reached if at all...these bills are due by the 15th...and will continue coming each month.
Now, I am not saying that a rate increase wasn't due, it was. We had a few bills that where $12...I told my husband that is crazy, coming from Aiken billing at 91.00. BUT...what they should have done is look and compare surrounding areas MINUS garbage service and took it from there and adjusted accordingly. I think there would have been less anger. I think the average family with about 5500-6000 gallon usage would see maybe a $40 bill. That is comparible to Breezy Heights.
I have heard Thursday...do you suppose they made it today because of the outrage?
I don't know i saw where on the facebook group that shane massey is a part of Graniteville and Vaucluse United he wrote on their last night that it would be Thursday so i hope it hasn't changed.
Channel 12 says Tues. on the video, but Thursday in the article...Channel 6 says Thursday and Aiken Stand says Thursday. It may be a reporting error.
ksperringer - did you complain to Avondale when you got that $12 bill and accuse them of not reading your meter then? Oh the hypocrisy!
The point is, it would make sense to raise the rates to comparable levels elsewhere, but not raise them exorbitant amounts just to make up for what they could have gotten in the past had they been gradually increasing the bills. That would be bad business if it was in a competitive market, but since there is no competition it is out and out extortion.