Opponent to water rate hike emerges

For two reasons, Berry Nichols says this is a bad time for Walhalla to raise water rates. T-J Bagwell, newly-appointed chairman of city utilities committee, is floating the idea that the extra revenue would help Walhalla offset some of the debt it will face as part of the project to build a new treatment plant. But Nichols says this is still a tough economy. Mainly, however, the Coffee Road resident decries the effect on him, as well as on other customers who pay more because they live beyond the corporate limits. Bagwell plans to present his proposal for a vote at the January meeting of city council—5:30 p-m Tuesday at City Hall. And Nichols says he’ll be there to be heard.