GODDARD, Kan. (KWCH) – After opposition from residents, the Goddard City Council decided to hold a vote on a significant increase in water pricesLast Monday, city leaders put the proposal on hold for a month.

The proposed water price would nearly double what most people pay, from $8.50 per unit to $16.50 per unit for up to 2,000 gallons. The new prices would take effect for the billing period of August 20 to September 20.

The city cited repairs to the emergency water well, inflation and the need to replace aging infrastructure as the main reasons for the planned price increase.

“This is not our problem. This is not an ‘us versus them’ problem. This is our city,” said Goddard Mayor George Liebe.

At the city council meeting last Monday, many residents commented on the city’s plans, including Natalie Busch, who launched a petition to prevent the increase.

“It’s really encouraging to see so many people not only showing up, but standing up and speaking,” Busch said. “…They’ve decided to form a committee to address our water problem, and I’m excited to see what we come up with.”

While residents who attended Goddard’s City Council meeting last Monday said they were glad the proposed water rate increase was put on hold for now, they have many questions about the proposal and what can be done to avoid such a large increase.

“I think they will be extra cautious in the future and take additional steps to think about the needs of the community,” Busch said.

During a committee that looked more closely at water prices, Liebe addressed the issue and acknowledged that communication with residents could have been better to make them understand why the city was proposing a significant price increase.

“I ask for mercy, once again, knowing that we probably did not communicate well what we have done and what we are working on. We will do better in the future,” said the mayor of Goddard.

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