Fifty dollars in field-use fees led the Rathdrum City Council to vote 4-0 Wednesday night to table a vote on adopting the fiscal year 2027 fee schedule.

The council was generally in favor of everything within the fee schedule but was hung up on an item under “Parks Fees” regarding field-use fees for recreational sports. 

Last year, the field use fee was $300 for both children and adults. This year those numbers rose to $350 for children and $400 for adults. 

The raise in fees not just for recreational sports but across the board was justified by increasing operational costs for the city. Some councilors questioned why the fee for adults was larger than for children when the same time and maintenance is required to care for a well-surfaced, safe field of play.

Councilmember Larry Sanders voted to table the schedule’s approval, giving the council a chance to consider changing the $400 figure applied to adults.

“I would be comfortable adopting that, and then at a later date, if you go, ‘Here's how I came up with that,’ great,” Sanders said. “If not, then maybe we can consider lowering it at another time.”

Water rates were set to increase should the fee schedule have been approved, a key issue for Rathdrum resident Staci O’Connell. The city has been dealing with water pressure issues.

She said the rotating sprinkler heads at Majestic and Myer parks are overshooting the grass and watering the street and sidewalk, causing flooding in the street.

“Council, you need to question the information we're given by staff, challenge staff, hold people accountable. You are a resident's only voice. Simply accepting the staff's explanation as gospel is what got us in this situation," she said.

Monthly irrigation water rates would rise to $1 from 93 cents per 1,000 gallons. The residential water base rate would rise to $17 per 1,000 gallons from $16.02. Those using between 5,000 and 20,000 gallons of water would see an increase to 75 cents per 1,000 gallons from 69 cents, while usage above 20,000 gallons would increase to $1.55 per 1,000 gallons.

The fee schedule would take effect Oct. 1.

"There's been a couple times we had to come back with some calculation to support some of the fees," City Attorney Emily Smith said.

    Rathdrum resident Staci O'Connell speaks before the city council.