Who pays for the RV park water/sewage

[bill london <london@moscow.com>]

I have been surprised that no local media have followed up on the questions
raised on Vision 2020 by Terry Johnson-Huhta regarding the public use of water
and sewage dump at the RV park at the Latah County Fairgrounds.
To start to clarify the issues, I asked Gary Riedner (city administrator) who
the city billed for that water.
As you can read below in our emails, the water and sewage there is billed to the
fairgrounds.
So, I called the fairgrounds office and was told that the fairgrounds activities
(including building rentals and the funds taken from that donation jar at the
sewage dump) account for about 60 percent of the fair budget, and that the other
40 percent comes from county taxes.
And that seems to be the answer to the question of who pays for the sewage dump
and water faucet at the fairgrounds: taxpayers pay about half of it.
BL

Gary Riedner wrote:

> Bill:
>
> According to Tom Scallorn, Water Supervisor:
>
> There are four water meters for the Fairgrounds property. Three are billed
> to the County Fairgrounds. The water meter for Lion's Park is not billed as
> per my previous communication regarding the park's status. Lion's park is
> the grass field, including the basketball courts just to the south of the
> Armory.
>
> Of the remaining three:
>
> There is a meter on Harold St. near the Armory which serves an exhibition
> building and what is called the food court. It also supplies some irrigation
> around the buildings, especially east of the Armory. This account is billed
> to the Fairgrounds and also includes sewer.
>
> There is a meter on Harold St. near the newer exhibition building. The
> account is billed to the Fairgrounds and also includes sewer.
>
> There is a meter near animal barns, which serves water to the barns and RV
> station. The account is billed to the Fairgrounds and also includes sewer.
>
> I am unable to verify who installed the RV dump and faucet. I would suggest
> that this information could be obtained from the Lion's Club or the
> Fairgrounds. I just don't have that information.
>
> Likewise, I am unable to comment regarding the collection of money and and
> who retains it. The same sources I noted above would be able to answer those
> questions.
>
> Hope this explains it.
>
> Gary
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bill london [mailto:london@moscow.com]
> Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2002 9:47 AM
> To: Gary Riedner
> Subject: Re: from Vision 2020
>
> G-
> I appreciate your response, but am still unclear on these points...
> There are four  water/sewage accounts at the Fairgrounds and those four are
> billed to (and paid for by) the county...correct?
> One of those 4 accounts includes the dump station and water faucet available
> for
> public use at the fairgrounds...correct?
> Lions Park is the grassy playfield area on Blaine at the edge of the
> fairgrounds, correct?  Lion's Park is not billed for water, correct?
> The Lion's Club installed the RV dump and faucet, correct?
> Does the Lion's Club collect the donation money and retain it--or is that
> money
> used to pay for the water/sewage?
> thanks BL
>
> Gary Riedner wrote:
>
> > Bill:
> >
> > The City bills water and sewer to the Fairgrounds, including the RV Park,
> > with the exception of Lion's Park. There is a water meter measuring
> > consumption of water used at Lion's Park, but no billing is made for the
> > water usage for the park itself because of its status as a public park.
> >
> > There are three other water meters servicing the Fairgrounds which are
> > billed for water and sewer charges. The account which services the RV Park
> > also serves the animal barns at the Fairgrounds. The account is paid by
> the
> > Fairgrounds.
> >
> > Hope this answers your question.
> >
> > Gary
> >
> > The short answer is
> > Yes we bill water and sewer, with one exception and that is the ball field
> > on Blaine, that is actually call Lions Park and was created by the Lions
> > Club on Fair Ground property. The RV dump station is operated by the Lions
> > Club and they get the revenue, the water is billed and paid for by the
> Fair
> > Grounds.
> >
> > Long answer. There are actually four meters.
> >
> > Meter on Blaine for the Lions Park, the water is metered and is not
> billed,
> > the field is used as a City Park, has been the reason. We watch
> consumption
> > and work with the Fair Grounds to keep the water use reasonable
> >
> > Meter on Harold near Armory, serves an exhibition building and what is
> > called the food court, it also supplies some irrigation around the
> > buildings, especially east of the Armory. This account is also bill for
> > commercial sewer.
> >
> > Meter on Harold near the newer exhibition building where voting occurs. We
> > bill for water and commercial sewer.
> >
> > Meter near animal barns, serves water to barns and RV station. The account
> > is billed for water and commercial sewer.
> >
> > Mark Cook wrote:
> >
> > Would you please investigate for me and let me know the answer.  Thanks,
> > Cook.
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Gary Riedner
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 9:38 AM
> > To: Mark Cook
> > Subject: FW: from Vision 2020
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: bill london [mailto:london@moscow.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 8:10 AM
> > To: Gary Riedner
> > Subject: from Vision 2020
> >
> > G-
> > Is the city supplying the water to the RV park at Latah Fairgrounds at no
> > cost,
> > or is the fair/county paying for the water and sewage fees there?
> > BL
> >
> > Terry Johnson-Huhta wrote:
> >
> > > To enlighten you all on who pays for the RVs and poachers water and
> > > sewer.....YOU DO.
> > >
> > > I am a member of the Latah County Fair Board and numerous times I have
> > > brought up the fact that I find it most distressing that taxpayers are
> > > paying for RV's (and others) to  get water and sewage disposal for free
> or
> > > for a VERY small donation.  Yes, the Lions put in the dump station, yes
> > > there is a donation box, but....the Lions collect the money and put the
> > > money into their coffers and none is used to pay the water and sewage
> bill
> > > at the Fair grounds.  The Lions gave the community a "gift" that
> everyone
> > > pays for with taxes.  I don't want to sound as though I don't appreciate
> > all
> > > the efforts many of the service groups provide to the Fair grounds.  But
> > > these services often times end up  costing more than the intention.
> > >
> > > And..... a couple of years ago the Fair board had another donation box
> > > installed for those using the RV camp site and electricity to leave an
> > $8.00
> > > per night use fee.  Because it is unattended many simply do not bother
> to
> > > pay.  Most are traveling in RVs in the thousands of dollars and can well
> > > afford the small price tag.  So...you the taxpayer pays for the
> > electricity
> > > as well as water and sewage. During the "Life on Wheels" week long
> > > encampment  and some of the hottest days of the summer, I counted at
> least
> > > 52 use nights. (I missed a couple of days )  I have not yet seen an
> > > accounting of the amount of money collected during that time.  That
> should
> > > appear in the next financial report.
> > >
> > > My concerns can not be fully addressed at the meetings because I have a
> > > conflict of interest in that a member of my family operates a small RV
> > park.
> > > I don't want government meddling in business that the private sector is
> > and
> > > should be doing.
> > >
> > >  I can only see the use of the Fair grounds site escalating. The Fair
> > > grounds recently received a grant from the Ida ho Parks Department to
> > > upgrade the sites.  Again....free money!?!
> > >
> > > Any suggestions?
> > >
> > > Terry Johnson-Huhta