Residents in the Weston area getting their water from Platte County Public Water Supply Districts No. 3 and 7 are reacting to a steep rate increase recently approved by the Weston Board of Aldermen. The more than 60 percent increase goes into effect this week.
According to Mayor Kim Kirby, some residents were in attendance at the Monday, May 11 meeting of the Board of Aldermen to protest the rate increase.
Water District No. 3 President Lori Mathews issued a letter to customers in early May outlining what the water district calls and excessive and arbitrary 64 percent increase. According to Mathews, the water district’s contract with the city for the purchase of water expired in December 2017 and since the parties have operated under the terms of the expired contract. In March 2023, the district presented the city with a proposed contract, but no action was taken. In June 2025, Mathews said water district representatives met with Kirby and Alderman Joyce Burch and a price reduction was suggested. In November 2025 the water district sent a proposed contract to the city, suggesting essentially the same terms as were suggested in 2023.
“The district never heard from the city regarding the proposed contract,” Mathews said in the letter. “Instead, on Feb. 9, 2026, the mayor told the city aldermen that negotiations with the district had fallen apart. In truth, there were no negotiations – just a 64 percent rate increase.”
Mathews called the increase a political compromise reached by the city and said it is not based on a professional rate analysis.
“The board of aldermen and mayors of the past and now myself, have negotiated and met with the districts. However, there is no contract with either,” Kirby said.
In February, she said the city looked at the total water budget.
“(We) felt our costs had increased so much that an increase was warranted,” Kirby said. “Without any contracts with the districts the board felt they could increase to a number that would be sufficient to help us maintain our water plant. The citizens of Weston did receive an increase in water as well.”