Infrastructure 
KINGMAN - The construction industry in Kingman took another hit on Monday when the City Council voted 5-0 to raise water and sewer impact fees.
The cost of “Development Investment Fees” for residential hookups was raised from $1,200 to $1,800. Sewer hookups were raised to $265 per fixture.
The city must find more funds to finance a new wastewater treatment plant because the current facility is out of compliance and insufficient to handle the current capacity. If it does not build a new plant the state could cut off all new building permits in the city.
A “Water and Wastewater Rate and Investment Fee Study” in October determined that to keep up with current growth and fund the new plant the water impact fee should have been raised to $3,500. The $1,800 figure was a compromise because the Council was concerned the hike to $3,500 could further stagnate growth and that at the current rate of growth even with raising impact fees to $3,500 would not be enough to fund servicing growth at the current rate.
Instead the Council raised the base rate all water users pay by $2 a month and instituted the $1,800 impact fee as a means of funding infrastructure growth.
Speaking on behalf of the Northern Arizona Building Association and local construction workers Clay England of England Homes, Inc., told the Council it is further hindering the industry and many construction workers who are out of work.
“”It’s just one more added cost that we just keep getting hit with,” England said. “I don’t see anything the local government is doing to help a large portion of the residents of Kingman.”
The new fees take effect July 1.
For contact information for the mayor and council visit the city's Web site at www.cityofkingman.gov
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