20160114Comment.pdf

Jean Jewell
From:[e-mail]
Sent:Thursday,January 14,2016 12:22 AM
To:Beverly Barker;Jean Jewell;Gene Fadness
Subject:Case Comment Form:Rich &Mary Boettcher
Name:Rich &Mary Boettcher
Case Number:DIA-W-15-01
Email:[e-mail]
Telephone:[phone]
Address:1937 W Diamond Bar RU
Rathd rum Idaho,83858
Name of Utility Company:Diamond Bar Estates Water Company
Comment:We are writing in response to Case No.DIA-W-15-01.
As owners in Diamond Bar Estates for the past 14 years,we were shocked to get a notice of a proposed 80%increase in
our water bill and given with such short notice!
We cannot begin to follow how this proposal can be warranted.We have calculated our own personal usage for last
year (2015)and our total expense was $997.20.If we use the same amount of water this coming year,our bill will be
$1,792.80!
When we purchased our piece of property in 2001,we bought with the knowledge that we would have irrigation water
during the warm months for a lump sum fee of between $200-300/year.(which we did for a few years)With this in
mind,we put a lot of time and effort into developing our 5 acre parcel.It hurt us in 2007 when they all of a sudden our
water usage rates were increased and the flat rate for irrigation water was done away with.We now pay in one summer
month what we used to pay for the whole season.With the new proposed rates,our budget will not allow us to
maintain our property at the same level that we do now.Our neighborhood has retired fixed income families as well as
families trying to run small hobby farms that need pastures,which requires water.Without water,the families who
cannot afford these new proposed rates,yards and pastures will turn to brown weeds.This will affect the resale for all of
us in this development.
The owner of Diamond Bar Water is also the developer of Diamond Bar Estates.Diamond Bar Estates is a 5 acre
community that allows for large yards,gardens,animals and pastures which cannot be maintained at this proposed rate.
We definitely do not follow the mathematics of the attached exhibits in the application and cannot imagine why after so
many years,there is suddenly a need for an 80%increase in the rate.Money should have been set aside over the years
for the replacement &maintenance of our water system.We especially feel this way because the same person initially
designed and orchestrated the rate schedule,which is far under todays rate-let alone the new proposed rate.We fear
our water system has been neglected and let go over the years and possibly the money was spent elsewhere?Money is
needed now because our system is in need of some serious work.We have been without water off/on several times
over the past 2 years.We were told last summer for an extended period of time not to use irrigation water.This was
not due to the lack of water but rather to mechanical failure.
We hope that this proposal will be invested thoroughly.Thank you for your consideration.
Unique Identifier:76.178.17.250
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