Where: Blackfoot, Bingham County, Idaho
Issue: The Rose Garden Mobile Home Park lacked capacity and financial resources to manage its water system
Outcome: RCAC completed a water rate analysis which lead to a water rate increase, and helped the community build its capacity
Rose Garden is a mobile home park near Blackfoot, Idaho. In 2016, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) contacted RCAC with concerns that Rose Garden’s water system was not in compliance with regulations.
RCAC technical assistance provider, Ty Long, visited Rose Garden and found that the water system’s board did not meet regularly and had no by- laws. The aged system was struggling financially. Several users were delinquent on their $25 per month bill, and some customers were multiple years behind. Moreover, it was impossible to recover fees because there were no shutoff valves or legal recourse to turn nonpaying customers’ water off. Also, the system did not have a certified water operator, which is an Idaho DEQ requirement.
Long completed a rate analysis. He found that Rose Garden’s rates were significantly lower than what was needed to pay expenses and fill reserves. He recommended that the system charge customers $50 per month to build reserves and hire a water operator. The board voted to increase water rates incrementally to reach $50 per month by Oct. 1, 2017.
Board members held a meeting with the residents to discuss the rate increase and all residents recognized that to maintain the system, the rates needed to increase. They also agreed to meet with Blackfoot city leaders to discuss annexing the mobile home property, thereby increasing its economy of scale and lowering costs.
Rose Garden representatives eventually met with Blackfoot officials and determined that a preliminary engineering report was needed to assess future capital improvement alternatives and costs. RCAC is now assisting Rose Garden with funding applications to pay for a preliminary engineering report.
In February 2017, RCAC provided draft bylaws for the community and in April 2017, RCAC assisted the community to procure a certified water operator.
