Water and sewer bills to increase in Mountain City

Parkdale Mills was one of Mountain City’s largest employers and one of its biggest water purchasers before permanently closing their doors in wake of the flod damage from Hurricane Helene. Mountain City has enacted a water and sewer rate increase to offset the $500,000 Parkdale purchased in water and sewer per year. That means residents will see a 12% increase in water rates and a 15% increase in sewer. The towns water and sewer utilities have an operating cost of nearly $5 million. Those rate increases will go into effect this month, but customers won’t be billed until April 1.