LIMA — The Allen County Commissioners are considering a proposal to transfer about 9,000 county water customers to the Allen Water District to help pay for infrastructure upgrades the commissioners believe will be needed within the next decade.
Commissioners on Thursday reviewed a draft version of the agreement, which would impose a $1 per month administration fee on new Allen Water District customers in the first year. That administration fee would then rise 25 cents each year over four years, capping at $2 per month in the fourth year of the agreement.
Allen Water District customers, meanwhile, would see their monthly administration fees gradually fall over the four-year period to match fees paid by new customers, who are not currently paying an administration fee.
The Allen Water District, which contracts with the City of Lima and City of Delphos to provide water to customers outside city limits, would assume responsibility for the county’s aging water infrastructure.
“Those lines are getting older every day,” said Commissioner Jay Begg. “They’re eventually going to have to be replaced. We don’t have a fund set up to do that; we’ve got the general fund but we don’t have a direct fund to do that. This is our way of ensuring that there will be no lapse of service.”
The commissioners took no action Thursday as the proposal is still under review.
