Garfield sewer rate hike gets public session

A public meeting in Garfield about a sewer rate increase drew some controversy Wednesday, Dec. 14. The $16.14 per month increase to $119 was approved by the town council in November.

The meeting, to inform residents of the reasons, drew about 10 residents.

“It's because we've been struggling for three years at the sewer plant,” said Mayor Ray McCown, citing warnings from the state Department of Ecology. “We had to raise it to meet expenses.”

Part of that is an increase in pay for the new Level II operator at the plant at a salary of $62,000 per year, compared to the last operator's $46,000.

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