Leesburg Restaurant Owners Say They'll Install Flow Meters To Monitor High Sewer Rates
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jen [email protected]
Stacy and Tyler Haines, owners of Stacy's Sports Inn, presented the board with information about flow meters that could measure the amount of waste each customer puts into the system.
"If you don't have some way to know who abuses the system, people will abuse it," Tyler said, adding that the devices are simple to install and are fairly affordable.
According to the information presented, the meters costs $650 each, but are $500 each if more than 25 are purchased.
Both men attended the May meeting to oppose the proposed sewer rates, saying the rates were too high for restaurants.
Since the town does not have a metered water system, the sewer rates were determined using state-mandated formulas. Restaurants' rates are based on the number of seats, and business rates are based on the number of employees. All residential rates are the same.
Board members Jay Weaver and Rick Stookey and Town Attorney Vern Landis said installing the meters would not be practical for all homes. Since the sewer project already is planned and the loans are secured, it would cost the town to install the meters, and the town cannot afford to pay that. Also, if the meters are installed, someone would have to be hired to read, maintain and fix them.
The Haineses said they planned to install the flow meters whether the town mandates it or not.
Weaver and Stookey said they understood why the men were upset about the rates, but that nothing could be changed until the system has been in place for a year. Once the system is working and evaluated, rates could change.
The board members also encouraged the Haineses to take their concerns to the state, since the rates were determined using state standards.
Engineers from the GRW firm looked through the information provided by Umbaugh and Associates regarding sewer rates for the businesses, and discovered that the company also figured rates assuming that the restaurants will reduce their seating capacities. If the restaurants reduce seating capacities by 25 percent, the rates fall into what the men said was a more reasonable range.
In other business, the council:
n Heard updates on the sewer project. Engineers from GRW said the grinder pump locations and control panels have been staked by the company and the contractor. Pre-construction videotaping of the project area has been completed and dates have been set for substantial completion (March 23, 2009) and final completion (April 22, 2009).
n Learned that the next progress meeting for the project is Sept. 8 at 2:30 p.m.
n Heard that there are three potential new customers on Ind. 15 and two potential new customers on Plum Street. Adding the new customers will tack on about $27,000 to the project cost, which could be covered by contingency funds built into the financial plan. If there is excess money in funds after the project is complete, that could be used to cover the additional costs as well. The board members decided to look over the information and make a decision about the additional customers at the next meeting.
n Heard that the first monthly sewer bills at the interim rate need to be sent out to users. If the first bill is sent a month from now, which is more than likely, it will be a double bill.
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Stacy and Tyler Haines, owners of Stacy's Sports Inn, presented the board with information about flow meters that could measure the amount of waste each customer puts into the system.
"If you don't have some way to know who abuses the system, people will abuse it," Tyler said, adding that the devices are simple to install and are fairly affordable.
According to the information presented, the meters costs $650 each, but are $500 each if more than 25 are purchased.
Both men attended the May meeting to oppose the proposed sewer rates, saying the rates were too high for restaurants.
Since the town does not have a metered water system, the sewer rates were determined using state-mandated formulas. Restaurants' rates are based on the number of seats, and business rates are based on the number of employees. All residential rates are the same.
Board members Jay Weaver and Rick Stookey and Town Attorney Vern Landis said installing the meters would not be practical for all homes. Since the sewer project already is planned and the loans are secured, it would cost the town to install the meters, and the town cannot afford to pay that. Also, if the meters are installed, someone would have to be hired to read, maintain and fix them.
The Haineses said they planned to install the flow meters whether the town mandates it or not.
Weaver and Stookey said they understood why the men were upset about the rates, but that nothing could be changed until the system has been in place for a year. Once the system is working and evaluated, rates could change.
The board members also encouraged the Haineses to take their concerns to the state, since the rates were determined using state standards.
Engineers from the GRW firm looked through the information provided by Umbaugh and Associates regarding sewer rates for the businesses, and discovered that the company also figured rates assuming that the restaurants will reduce their seating capacities. If the restaurants reduce seating capacities by 25 percent, the rates fall into what the men said was a more reasonable range.
In other business, the council:
n Heard updates on the sewer project. Engineers from GRW said the grinder pump locations and control panels have been staked by the company and the contractor. Pre-construction videotaping of the project area has been completed and dates have been set for substantial completion (March 23, 2009) and final completion (April 22, 2009).
n Learned that the next progress meeting for the project is Sept. 8 at 2:30 p.m.
n Heard that there are three potential new customers on Ind. 15 and two potential new customers on Plum Street. Adding the new customers will tack on about $27,000 to the project cost, which could be covered by contingency funds built into the financial plan. If there is excess money in funds after the project is complete, that could be used to cover the additional costs as well. The board members decided to look over the information and make a decision about the additional customers at the next meeting.
n Heard that the first monthly sewer bills at the interim rate need to be sent out to users. If the first bill is sent a month from now, which is more than likely, it will be a double bill.
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