Getting their water service turned back on is getting a lot more expensive for any Fort Dodge water customer who had it shut off because they were behind in paying their bills.

The City Council on Monday voted unanimously to boost the reconnection fee from $60 to $105.

Helping poor families with water bills is a service that the United Way of Fort Dodge provides. Randy Kuhlman, chief executive officer of the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way, said 70 families have been helped with water bills so far this year.

Kuhlman said 20 percent of the city’s water customers are in arrears on their water bills.

He challenged the council to explain the increase. He asked why the council was essentially doubling the fee on people who struggle to pay their water bills in the first place.

Councilwoman Megan Secor said she initially felt the same way about the increase. She said she met with City Manager David Fierke and other staff members to learn more about the proposal.

“I asked to see the numbers and they really added up,” she said.

“I think they’re trying their best not to gouge people.” she said.

Fierke said reconnection fees exist so that the people who need that service pay for it instead of having the cost borne by all the water customers.

“There’s no revenue target we’re trying to hit here,” he said.

He said that people who are having trouble paying their water bills should contact the utility billing office so that they can be put on a payment plan before they have their water shut off.

The measure that increased the water reconnection fee also included an increase in the deposit that new water customers must pay to get their water turned on.

That fee will increase to $200, up from $100.

The deposit and the reconnection fee have been unchanged since July 2003.