Eagle residents unite to keep their water company local

EAGLE, Idaho — At least 100 people packed the council chambers at Eagle City Hall Tuesday night to voice their concerns about the possibility of paying more for their water and the company that is trying to buy it. 

On Monday, KTVB reported that some Eagle residents were upset about proposed water rate hikes if Suez Water acquired Eagle Water Company, a local water system that provides service to about 4,200 Eagle homes and businesses.

Some of those concerns though changed when people found out the city’s plan to buy Eagle Water Company.

“We want Eagle Water,” Mayor Stan Ridgeway said. “We want to buy it and our agreement says that we have the first right of refusal so, we should be able to get it for whatever Mr. Bangle paid for it or whatever the agreement is with him and as far as we're concerned, he's not in it."

According to Mayor Ridgeway, the city entered into an agreement with Eagle Water back in 2008. That agreement stated the water company would pay the city $10,000 a month. But the city says, the water company made nine payments and then stopped paying.

Fast forward to today, Ridgeway revealed at Tuesday's city council meeting that the city has learned a third party, Norm Bangle also received first right of refusal in 2013.

Residents like Shelley Brock, want the water ownership to go to the city.

“I’m actually involved in it with two different groups petitioning it and we're coming at it from different angles and one of the main reasons is the cost hikes,” Brock said. “We know they are going to happen if Suez takes over. If Eagle manages to buy it, we know they're going to have to raise rates too, but we know it won’t be as astronomical or uncontrollable as Suez has done all over the country.”

RELATED: Eagle residents fight proposed water utility rate hikes from possible Suez Water purchase

According to Ridgeway, both the city of Eagle and Bangle claim they have first right of refusal to buy the Eagle Water Company. Now, all these claims need to get sorted out before any purchases can move forward.

The deadline to sort this situation out is January 29.

The city says it could happen by the end of the week.