Howardwick fighting back on Red River rate increase

Howardwick City Hall is pushing back against a 40 percent water rate increase from Red River Water Authority, which will go into effect next month.

City Secretary Sandy Childress said Mayor Tony Clemishire spoke to the Red River board during a hearing in December, but the board approved the rate increase over the community’s objections.

The increase will change the minimum water bill for Howardwick residents from $73.50 per month to $103 per month.

“We’ve got the surveys that show 70 percent of our people out here are below the poverty level,” Childress said. “They can’t pay this.”

Howardwick’s only recourse is to petition the water authority to appeal the rate increase; but since the rate increase affects the entire Red River system, the threshold for petitioning is high.

“We have to get more than 400 signatures of customers, and we only have about 70 in Howardwick,” Childress said, so she is tracking down all the Red River customers she can find and will even take the petition to them if necessary.

In a letter to customers dated December 22, 2022, the Red River General Manager Randy Whiteman said the rate increase is needed.

“The Authority realizes that rate increases are not popular, but to achieve the Utility Division’s basic objective of providing a safe, potable water supply capable of meeting customers’ needs at the most economical cost, the rate increase is necessary,” Whiteman wrote.

Barring a successful appeal, the increase will take effect February 1 and show up on the March billing.

Red River customers interested in signing Howardwick’s petition are asked to call Childress at City Hall at 806-874-2222.