Kerby H2O district goal being realized
“It’s been a really neat civics lesson.”
This is how John Plute, chairman of the Kerby Water District (KWD), describes his now eight-year odyssey to establish a viable water source for the Illinois Valley community.
Plute said that he had been delivering water to people with holding tanks as a water source. He found the cost to be approximately $65 per month to the customer and hoped a water district could save people money. His goal is about to be realized.
The surveying of potential sites for a 125,000-gallon holding tank should begin next month, Plute stated. Sites being surveyed are on the ridge line just south of Glendon Road.
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Water to fill the tank will come from the city of Cave Junction and be delivered to customers via an 8-inch water main. Also included in the plan is a series of hydrants that will aid greatly in fire suppression.
The cost for the project will exceed $3 million, Plute said, while noting that grants from USDA Rural Development and Oregon State Community Development will cover 75 percent. The remainder of the funds will come from a general obligation bond passed by Kerby voters in May 2005. The bond allowed a loan of $550,000 at a 4.5 percent interest rate.
The city of Cave Junction has agreed to provide the water at the same rate it charges its current customers, and Crocker Financial Services, of Cave Junction, has agreed to handle customer billing at a reduced rate. With all factors taken into consideration, Plute said that the minimum charge to customers will be slightly more than $30 a month, showing a more than 50 percent savings vs. delivered water, he said.
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Currently, residents in Kerby are allowed to join KWD for a fee of $5 per month with no initial connection fee. But Plute emphasized that once the surveying starts next month, new members will be charged for connection costs which can exceed $2,000.
He said there are currently 70 households in the system that has a capacity to serve approximately 200.
For information about signing up, or other data; contact Sharon Miller at 592-2722, or Illinois Valley Community Development Organization at 592-4440.
