Rockford Utilities purchases Parker Creek Water System
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Rockford Utilities purchases Parker Creek Water System
By Crystal Glenn
The Rockford Utilities Board announced on Tuesday at its monthly meeting the purchase of Parker Creek Water System.
After some negotiations, leaders in Coosa County reportedly knew that it would be beneficial to merge Parker Creek Water System with Rockford Utilities. It was imperative that the revenue from the water system be kept in Coosa County.
“I am very proud for Coosa County,” said Terry Henley, previous owner of Parker Creek Water. “Twenty-one years ago, to be able to execute the plan for the water system, and to now know it will transfer to Rockford is such a great thing for the county.”
The Parker Creek merger was signed on July 19, but the actual purchase price is not being announced at this time.
“After reviewing the investment and having First Bank access the purchase, we decided to keep Parker Creek Water in Coosa County with this merger,” said Utilities Board Chair Ronnie Brown.
“There are many leaders in Coosa County with foresight and who know where the growth is,” said Henley. “Thank goodness for Chairman Brown and the water board for being able to see the benefit of this merger for the county.”
Former Parker Creek customers can expect a letter in the next few days to inform them of the transition. With this letter there will be a bank draft form that will need to be completed and returned to Rockford Utilities if the customer wishes to have their bill processed through automatic bill pay on the fifteenth of each month, with August 15 being the first transaction after the merger.
At the board meeting, members reviewed the current fees and rates that Parker Creek customers are paying. Chair Brown asked other members to look over these rates and compare them to Rockford’s current rates to be reassessed and discussed at next month’s meeting.
Also discussed at this month’s meeting was a business license fee that is being charged by the Town of Rockford.
Last month the board reviewed the license fee and asked attorney Nancy Kirby to look into the legalities of the utilities board being asked to pay this fee.
At this month’s town council meeting, Brown attended and presented the council a letter, via Kirby, stating that the board was not liable to pay the fee.
Brown informed the board of his visit with the council and asked that Kirby continue to look into the legitimacy of this fee since the council continues to insist that it is owed legally.
Brown also informed the board that the council has the ability to just waive the fee, but it seems they are adamant that it be paid.
The amount that the council is asking for this business license fee is $12,325.21. The amount is assessed based on 3% of the gross earnings of the water authority.
Brown and board members discussed the likelihood of this fee being passed down to water customers with a rate increase.
Board Member J.T. McDonald shared concerns about this fee and asked the board to consider meeting with the town council all together to discuss this newly issued business license fee. “This isn’t good,” said McDonald. “We need to settle this as peacefully as possible.”
After a unanimous vote, the board agreed to be at the next town council meeting in August. They will ask to be put on the agenda in the hopes that the town council will hear their concerns, especially for water customers.
The next Rockford Utilities Board meeting will be held on August 17 at 7 p.m.
Stay tuned to “The Coosa County News” for future updates concerning the business license fee and the negotiations between the town and water board.