Parry Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Chatham water saga continues. After another lengthy workshop on water and sewer rates, the Chatham Village Board last month raised rates for the second time in less than two years. This time the increase was 65 percent. More than a dozen people attended the May 24 meeting to learn how the village ended the fiscal year with a $370,000 deficit for water and sewer services, more than twice the deficit of each of the previous two years. As a result, the 700 water customers in the village, as well as 150 customers outside of the village, must pay for the shortfall. Village officials say they have been trying for several years to catch up with maintenance and replacement of village infrastructure. Village resident John Howe said some of the figures in the sewer report “don’t add up” and he repeated a request that the board ask the Office of the State Comptroller to audit the water and sewer finances. Following the water and sewer workshop, the board voted to adopt the increased service fees. The new rates took effect June 1. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.