Stagecoach Water Tap Fee Battle This week
“On Tuesday afternoon at 2 P.M., the Morrison Creek Water Board will go before the Routt County Commissioners to explain their reasoning for raising water tap fees 375% to build a new water treatment plant In the Stagecoach Development.
These fees will increase from $8,000 to $30,000 for lot owners who have not developed their properties. The fees are not equally applied to lot owners in Stagecoach. Owners who have prepaid their fees will not be required to contribute to plant improvements. Those landowners who have not prepaid their tap fees will be put at a competitive disadvantage when they sell their property. The Steamboat Springs Board of REALTORS® is opposed to the tap fee increases for the following reasons:
- The drastic fee increases have not been publicly vetted in a way that is satisfactory to those that are affected by the fee increase.
- The fee is not applied equally. Landowners are put on an unlevel playing field because lot owners who have prepaid the fee will be able to sell their lot or build at a more competitive price than those who have not prepaid the fee.
- Current users in the Morrison Creek Water District will not be required to contribute to the cost of the new water treatment facility, despite the fact that these users will benefit from the new plant.
- The population growth estimates used are faulty.
Tuesday’s Routt County Commissioner meeting is at 2 P.M. at the Courthouse to voice your opposition to the fee increases. In addition, the Water Board will meet on Thursday for its regular meeting at 3:30 P.M. at 401 Lincoln Ave. Public Comment will be taken at this meeting as well.”
This message was sent from the Steamboat Springs Board of Realtors