Dear Editor,
In August 2020, the Yellowstone County Commissioners appointed me as the county representative to the Heights Water Board. One of the commissioners specifically said he had heard multiple complaints from business owners about the fees charged; business owners told him the Heights Water District and board are “impossible to work with.” I affirm that those statements are true.
Jay Kohn’s March 5 broadcast “Heights Water Board: Help or hindrance to development?” included similar statements. Heights Water District Board President Wynn Pippin defended the district’s business practices. She told MTN News that in her twenty years on the board, no one has ever come before the board to question its fees. I know that’s not true because I questioned the fees at a board meeting on December 11, 2019. I asked about some of the issues with commercial property development in the Heights area, specifically the system development fees the Heights Water District charges, versus the City of Billings. The answer I received from Director Duke Nieskins at that meeting was not helpful nor complete.
What are the differences in fees charged for water service? Pizza Ranch in the Heights $40,345 vs the Pizza Ranch on King Avenue, $11,295; Medicine Crow Middle School $220,606 vs Ben Steele Middle School $149,130. Taxpayers in SD#2 paid $71,746 more to provide Billings city water to Medicine Crow Middle School than to Ben Steele.
On February 12, 2020, Tam Rodier, Program Director, Community Development Division, City of Billings asked the Heights Water Board to lift a requirement for a $3678 advance Water Service Retainer Agreement for a property that had service but the house had been torn down. Retainer fees are not allowable by federal law because the project would have been developed using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Total estimated water fees for the project were projected to be up to $7986. The board refused the request, and the lot sits undeveloped. Debi Meling, the director of Public Works, said Billings would have charged $190 for the same services and would not charge any fees in advance.
This spring registered voters living in the Water District service area or an owner of taxable real property within the boundaries of the district (or, if the property is owned by more than one person, an agent designated by the owners) will have the chance to vote for three members of the Board of Directors. Nonresident property owners need to request a ballot before April 9th at 5:00 pm. A link to the ballot form is available at https://www.co.yellowstone.mt.gov/elections/Forms/NonregisteredElectorMailBallotRequestFormforYellowstoneCountyWater.pdf
There has not been an election for Water District Board Members in decades. This year there are eight individuals who have filed for the election. Election day is May 4, 2021. More than 11,000 registered voters will receive ballots in the mail. Nonresident property owners will receive a ballot ONLY if they have applied for a ballot before the April 9th deadline.
The Heights Task Force sponsored a candidate forum on March 23 and invited the eight candidates to participate; only four of the eight participated. Concerns about lack of transparency and the fee schedule were top concerns. The forum was recorded and posted Heights Task Force – Candidate forum | Facebook.
The County Water Board of Billings Heights has failed to be responsive to constituents and failed to work with the staff to develop fee schedules that are reasonable and fair. It is time to bring transparency and economic development by electing three new board members. I’m casting my ballot in favor of Dennis Cook, Ming Cabrera, and Laura Drager. Together, we can make a difference.
Pam Ellis
