Each time the next step has been needed to be made in regard to the north county water district, Fredonia Mayor Stephen Keefe has given his approval on behalf of the village. Last week, Keefe gave Fredonia residents a reason to back the district.

With operations at Carriage House coming to an end in late May, residents served by village water will have to pick up the slack. Keefe has proposed increasing the water rates by $1.30 to $4.31 per thousand gallons of usage – a 43 percent increase.

Carriage House is the village’s largest water and sewer user. When it closes its doors, less water will be purchased from the village. Residents, in Keefe’s proposal, will be penalized for the loss of the business.

But Keefe has backed the water district in the past, which Fredonia is welcome to be a part of as a supplier. If Fredonia was to be in the district, the cost of water would be lower than that proposed rate.

In a meeting on Feb. 24, rates for a water district were released. As part of a district, Fredonia users would pay $3.57 per thousand gallons used. That’s 74 cents less than what is being proposed.

Most residents would rather pay the smaller amount. Village trustees, however, may not care enough about serving their constituents and instead want to keep its water system.

Cost is not the issue. Control is.

If a water district offers lower cost to residents and businesses, village leaders need to seriously consider that option. If they don’t, then just whose interest are they serving?