Park Falls water rates set to increase by 74%

PARK FALLS – Residents in Park Falls could face a big water rate hike because of the closure of the paper mill.  The Wisconsin Public Service Commission which determines what a municipality must charge for its water utility rates, issued a press release saying that water rates would increase by 74 percent almost entirely due to the loss of the paper mill as a water customer.  According to Park Falls Mayor Michael Bablick the rate increase could have been worse saying the PSC, initially was talking about a 96% increase of water rates.  The proposed increase would only apply for the water portion of resident’s quarterly utility bill, which would equal roughly $75 per quarter for an average household.  There’s a city council meeting on July 5th at 6pm to discuss the utility increase. The Public Service Commission will hold their public hearing on July 7.