RONAN — Citizens voiced heated opinions at a well-attended public hearing on increased water rates that preceded the regularly scheduled city council meeting Monday night.

Held at the Ronan Middle School auditorium because more than 40 people attended, the special public hearing outlined an increase in water rates that will essentially double existing rates and halve the thousands of gallons of water included in the base rate.

Dubbed a “double whammy” by various audience members, who directed their frustration at city council members and Montana Rural Water Systems circuit rider Harry Whalen, the increase will create a $26.84 base rate for up to 3,000 gallons of water per month with an overage cost of $1.86 per 1,000 gallons for approximately three-quarters of city residents. The existing rate is $13.60 for up to 6,000 gallons per month, with an overage rate of $2.00 per 1,000 gallons.

The money raised will supplement a $4.9 million water systems improvement project. The project will help Ronan become compliant with Montana Department of Environmental Quality regulations that will come into play in 2012.

“It's just something we have to bite the bullet on,” Ronan Mayor Kim Aipperspach said. “As a city, it's all of our responsibility.”

Half the money will be funded by grants that will not need to be repaid, an incredible deal that Whalen said would be unwise to pass up.

“I don't just pull numbers out of a hat,” Whalen said. “I work with what I have and try to come up with a fair and equivocal rate.”

Lamenting what many considered a “done deal,” community members asked questions about how the increase would affect their bills. Many complained of ever-increasing taxes and fixed-income residents who would hypothetically have to chose between buying food or paying bills.

“We're not doing this because we feel like it, we're doing it because we have to,” trustee Ann Brower said.

Once the hearing was closed, the city council moved to city hall for the regular meeting, where the first order of business was to vote on the proposed increase. Effective Oct. 1, Paul Soukup motioned to pass the increase, which was seconded by Penny Ross. The action passed by a 5-1 vote, with Cal Hardy the lone dissenter.

Hardy felt more public feedback would make him feel more comfortable, but Soukup said the time to act is now.

“Without this project, there's limited room for expansion,” he said. “You're never going to get it cheaper than today.”

Council members also touched on issues of trustees pay in the event they do not attend meetings. Trustees are paid $100 each month for their service, even if they miss a meeting. Some council members expressed concern over frequent absenteeism, but without an ordinance regulating the pay, members are paid regardless of attendance. Aipperspach said the council would review the policy if it becomes an issue, but many trustees said they would not accept a check if they didn't attend several meetings.

Also on the agenda was discussion on the possibility of hiring a city finance manager. Some trustees bemoaned justifying spending city funds on such a hire, especially on the heels of the public water hearing, but others saw it as an immediate and necessary action.

“Everybody's spread so thin, and if we drop the ball on some things, there are consequences,” Brower said. “This would fill some of those needs we have.”

A finance officer could cost $30,000 to $60,000 per year. The board moved to have the finance committee, composed of Brower, Marcia Ganieany and Hardy, come up with a job description and discuss the issue further.

The Ronan City Council will next meet on Sept. 27.