NORTHAMPTON — Coca-Cola plant manager Elijah Finister on Tuesday sent a letter to Mayor David Narkewicz seeking a change in the new city water and sewer rates.
Finister told Narkewicz, “we believe the current proposal disproportionately and unfairly impacts our business. Our estimated cost of the proposed rate change is nearly a half million dollar annually, which represents a significant, immediate and unbudgeted increase.”
The plant on Industrial Road, which has operated since 1995, employs 290 people.
Finister asked Narkewicz to consider a change to the proposal that would allow commercial users such as Coca-Cola to earn regular rebates based on conservation benchmarks.
“We could work together to develop a program that provides rebates for Northampton businesses that meet predetermined conservation targets,” Finister wrote in the letter.
Narkewicz, in an interview Tuesday night, said he would consider the request made by Coca-Cola as he determines possible changes in the new rate structure. “The timing (of the letter) is good — we’ve been thinking about some potential changes anyway,” he said. “I feel like we’ve been soliciting this kind of input.”
Narkewicz said despite the possibility of changes, he still believes in the general idea behind the proposed new rate structure, which would significantly increase fixed fees and distinguish between smaller and larger consumers.
“It’s still a sound structure,” he said. “But there may be ways to work within that.”
The council is scheduled to take a final vote on the plan April 7.
City Council President William H. Dwight said Tuesday the letter implies the increase would be problematic for Coca-Cola.
“They’re saying to request the $420,000 increase would probably give the Atlanta (corporate) offices some pause,” referring to a lower figure that was given to councilors. “If Coca-Cola were to move, that would clearly be a concern — they’re a major industrial system in Northampton.”
Dwight said he’s still leaning in favor of the proposed increase, but that he’s open to hearing what business owners have to say.
“The ethos of it still appeals to me,” said Dwight. “But at the same time if this is a big wrinkle we’ll find that out in public session.”
Council Vice President Ryan R. O’Donnell said councilors have heard rumblings from the community since the council first voted in favor of the increase on March 17.
“People are starting to pay attention now and that’s kind of the purpose behind having two readings,” O’Donnell said.
Still, O’Donnell said, it makes sense that Coca-Cola would pay a large amount in water and sewer fees.
“That’s certainly a lot of money, but they use a lot of water,” said O’Donnell. “I’d have a hard time explaining to a senior citizen who lives in a modest house on Union Street and on a fixed income why she should pay the same rate as a company that uses enormous amounts of water for their business model.”
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com