2nd public hearing on Dayton water, sewer connection fee hikes slated

A second public hearing on increasing water and sewer connection fees for Dayton and Mound House will be discussed Thursday by the Lyon County Commission.

Lyon County Utilities Director Mike Workman and county Comptroller Josh Foli have proposed nearly doubling the connection fee for water service from $2,021 to $4,303, and increasing the connection fee for sewer service from $9,183 to $9,616.

At the issue's first public hearing Nov. 27 in Dayton, some objected to an increase during a downturn in the housing market.

"The cost of building homes exceeds the market value," developer Randy Butler told commissioners at the Dayton meeting. "As much as I'd like to have a wonderful water system, the market has stopped, and you want to raise rates on us."

Workman has said the increases were needed to pay on bonds that were taken out to pay for water and sewer infrastructure upgrades approved in 2005, when the housing market was strong. He said those upgrades were based on developers' projections of additional housing.

He said his department had greatly scaled back its plans to the minimum to meet the needs of growth.

Workman said the department closed the South Wastewater Treatment Plant and cut back building additional infrastructure when growth slowed, but that other projects had to be completed so that the county is not overwhelmed when the market improves.

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 881-7351.

If You Go

WHAT: Lyon County Commission meeting

WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday

WHERE: 27 S. Main St., Yerington

CALL: 463-6531