Press "Enter" to skip to content

Public hearings looming for water cases around Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Two public hearings regarding water and sewer companies on the west side of the state are coming.

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) will be in Sedalia on November 19 to receive comment in a case filed by West 16th St. Sewer Company, W.P.C. Sewer Company, Village Water and Sewer Company, Inc. and Raccoon Creek Utility Operating Company, Inc.  The hearing will take place in the City Council Chambers of Sedalia City Hall, 200 South Osage Avenue, starting at 6:00 p.m.

In the joint application, Raccoon Creek Utility Operating Company, Inc. is seeking Commission authority to purchase substantially all of the sewer assets of West 16th Street Sewer Company, Village Water and Sewer Company, Inc. and W.P.C. Sewer Company.

West 16th Street Sewer Company currently provides sewer service to approximately 149 customers in Pettis County near Sedalia, Missouri.  W.P.C. Sewer Company provides sewer service to approximately 68 customers in Pettis County near Sedalia, Missouri.  Village Water and Sewer Company, Inc. serves approximately 240 sewer customers in Johnson County near Knob Noster, Missouri.

On the 20th, the PSC will be in Liberty to receive customer comment on a sewere rate case filed by Central Rivers Wastewater Utility, Inc.  The meeting will take place in the White Room at the Liberty Community Center, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Central Rivers Wastewater Utility, Inc. filed a sewer rate case with the Missouri Public Service Commission on March 11, 2014, seeking to increase annual sewer operating revenues by approximately $91,789.  Central Rivers Wastewater Utility, Inc. provides sewer service to approximately 241 customers in seven service areas in Clinton, Clay and Ray counties.  Those service areas are: Berkshire Glen, Fox Run, Private Gardens and Bar-B Acres/Park Estates in Kearney, Missouri; Wilmar in Liberty, Missouri; Country Hill Estates in Cameron, Missouri; and Countryside Meadows in Richmond, Missouri.

Under the small rate case process, the PSC Staff audits the books and records of the company.  After the audit, the PSC Staff shares its audit review as well as its initial recommendation for resolution of the rate request to the Office of the Public Counsel and Central Rivers Wastewater Utility, Inc.

Based upon discussions between the PSC Staff, the Office of the Public Counsel and the sewer company, the PSC Staff and Central Rivers Wastewater Utility, Inc. reached a partial agreement which would increase the annual sewer operating revenues of the company by approximately $34,461.

A residential customer of Central Rivers Wastewater Utility, Inc. currently pays $32 a month for sewer service.  That would increase to $43.92 a month under the partial agreement between the PSC Staff and Central Rivers Wastewater Utility, Inc.  The Office of the Public Counsel objects to the partial agreement.  The Office of the Public Counsel is a separate state agency that represents the general public in matters before the Commission.

The Commission will hold formal evidentiary hearings December 15-16, 2014, in this rate case.  Those hearings will be held in Room 310 of the Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, in Jefferson City.

Additionally, the deadline to intervene and participate in a case regarding Kimberling City Water Company (KCWC) has been set for November 25.

KCWC has filed an application with the PSC seeking approval to allow KCWC to transfer its water system assets to Upper White River Basin Foundation, Inc. If the transfer is approved, according to the application, Upper White River Basin Foundation, Inc. will then transfer ownership of the system to the Ozarks Clean Water Company (OCWC) in order to provide for water utility services.  The application states that neither Upper White River Basin Foundation, Inc. nor Ozarks Clean Water Company will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission.

Kimberling City is in SWMO, near Table Rock Lake.