Warsaw Sewer Rates May Be On The Rise
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Warsaw is about to increase sewer rates by 14 percent, from $24.50 to $28 per month, for residential customers. If approved, the hike would be effective Jan. 1.
City councilmen reviewed the proposed flat rate increases for single family homes, duplexes, apartments, condominiums and mobile homes Monday. Todd Samuelson of Umbaugh and Associates, Plymouth, said the monies coming to the municipality now are in "a lower than desirable position."
Although the rates were increased by 69 percent Jan. 1, 2002, from $14.50 to $24.50, there has been a shortfall, Samuelson said Monday.
In those two years, operating costs have been $3.4 million per year for two plants; the debt service (payments on bonds) is $1.9 million; and monies have been set aside for capital improvements.
Since the sewage spill into Walnut Creek in July 2001, the city's improvement costs demanded by Indiana Department of Environmental Management to the Boggs Industrial Park and legal fees resulting from the environmental disruption have been considerable.
The new treatment plant on CR 150W has been operating for nearly a year and both facilities are fully staffed.
Unlike other communities that also operate municipal water companies, Warsaw's sewage rates are based on an assumed 5,000-gallon water use per dwelling.
Samuelson said, in answer to councilman Charlie Smith's question, that towns with their own water company can meter use and charge accordingly for sewage. The only option would be to meter the sewage lines - an expensive proposition.
In addition to the new schedule of fees in Ordinance 2004-12-6, there is a paragraph regarding permit and inspection fees. The fees are charged now, but new to an ordinance of this type.
The ordinance also describes concessions in domestic rates and charges. People with a gross income of less than $10,000 are charged $14 per month for sewer fees.
Smith said the amount was too low, that it should be $17,000 or $20,000.
City attorney Mike Valentine said the $10,000 figure came from an old ordinance, from 1989, and should be $15,000.
Smith said that was still too low and suggested the figure be changed to $17,000 which was approved.
Jerry Patterson asked for the number of people who apply for the reduced rate. Affidavits must be filed with the sewage collection office once a year for the reduced rate.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said those numbers could be provided, adding that the rate is designed to help people on a fixed income. Samuelson said he thought Warsaw was unique in offering concessions.
The ordinance will be legally advertised, with the first public hearing set for Dec. 20. An ordinance of this type generally requires two readings. The first reading may be waived with the second reading and passage of the new rates set later this month.
The board reviewed notice of another increase, that of Comcast service packages to customers. The basic service goes up from $13.25 to $13.99 (an increase of 74 cents); expanded basic from $26.74 to $29 ($2.26). Standard cable costs, which include basic and expanded service, increase from $39.99 to $42.99 ($3).
The company plans to make digital cable available to customers in northwest Indiana in the first quarter of 2005.
The council tabled an ordinance amending solid waste disposal. Councilman Joe Thallemer suggested the citizen's advisory committee, members of the curbside recycling task force, take a look at the changes and make a recommendation to the council. The task force, chaired by Thallemer, is composed of citizens from each of the city's political districts, a couple of at-large members and public works superintendent Lacy Francis Jr. Thallemer said he would call a meeting of the committee in January.
The council also:
• Approved Ordinance 2004-12-01 rezoning property at 800 S. Buffalo St., from a mix of commercial and residential to C-2 commercial. The property is owned by Wildman Uniform and is 10.82 acres in size.
• Approved a $1,000 transfer for office material and supplies and the cost to print new health insurance books as requested by the human resources department.
• Approved a one-year probation for department heads with salary increases on an employee's six-month and one-year anniversaries of employment, as recommended by the mayor.
• Approved two administrative assistant positions for the building and planning department instead of one office manager and one administrative assistant.
City council members are George Clemens, Jeff Grose, Bob Morrison, Jerry Patterson, Bill Rhoades, Charlie Smith and Joe Thallemer. [[In-content Ad]]
Warsaw is about to increase sewer rates by 14 percent, from $24.50 to $28 per month, for residential customers. If approved, the hike would be effective Jan. 1.
City councilmen reviewed the proposed flat rate increases for single family homes, duplexes, apartments, condominiums and mobile homes Monday. Todd Samuelson of Umbaugh and Associates, Plymouth, said the monies coming to the municipality now are in "a lower than desirable position."
Although the rates were increased by 69 percent Jan. 1, 2002, from $14.50 to $24.50, there has been a shortfall, Samuelson said Monday.
In those two years, operating costs have been $3.4 million per year for two plants; the debt service (payments on bonds) is $1.9 million; and monies have been set aside for capital improvements.
Since the sewage spill into Walnut Creek in July 2001, the city's improvement costs demanded by Indiana Department of Environmental Management to the Boggs Industrial Park and legal fees resulting from the environmental disruption have been considerable.
The new treatment plant on CR 150W has been operating for nearly a year and both facilities are fully staffed.
Unlike other communities that also operate municipal water companies, Warsaw's sewage rates are based on an assumed 5,000-gallon water use per dwelling.
Samuelson said, in answer to councilman Charlie Smith's question, that towns with their own water company can meter use and charge accordingly for sewage. The only option would be to meter the sewage lines - an expensive proposition.
In addition to the new schedule of fees in Ordinance 2004-12-6, there is a paragraph regarding permit and inspection fees. The fees are charged now, but new to an ordinance of this type.
The ordinance also describes concessions in domestic rates and charges. People with a gross income of less than $10,000 are charged $14 per month for sewer fees.
Smith said the amount was too low, that it should be $17,000 or $20,000.
City attorney Mike Valentine said the $10,000 figure came from an old ordinance, from 1989, and should be $15,000.
Smith said that was still too low and suggested the figure be changed to $17,000 which was approved.
Jerry Patterson asked for the number of people who apply for the reduced rate. Affidavits must be filed with the sewage collection office once a year for the reduced rate.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said those numbers could be provided, adding that the rate is designed to help people on a fixed income. Samuelson said he thought Warsaw was unique in offering concessions.
The ordinance will be legally advertised, with the first public hearing set for Dec. 20. An ordinance of this type generally requires two readings. The first reading may be waived with the second reading and passage of the new rates set later this month.
The board reviewed notice of another increase, that of Comcast service packages to customers. The basic service goes up from $13.25 to $13.99 (an increase of 74 cents); expanded basic from $26.74 to $29 ($2.26). Standard cable costs, which include basic and expanded service, increase from $39.99 to $42.99 ($3).
The company plans to make digital cable available to customers in northwest Indiana in the first quarter of 2005.
The council tabled an ordinance amending solid waste disposal. Councilman Joe Thallemer suggested the citizen's advisory committee, members of the curbside recycling task force, take a look at the changes and make a recommendation to the council. The task force, chaired by Thallemer, is composed of citizens from each of the city's political districts, a couple of at-large members and public works superintendent Lacy Francis Jr. Thallemer said he would call a meeting of the committee in January.
The council also:
• Approved Ordinance 2004-12-01 rezoning property at 800 S. Buffalo St., from a mix of commercial and residential to C-2 commercial. The property is owned by Wildman Uniform and is 10.82 acres in size.
• Approved a $1,000 transfer for office material and supplies and the cost to print new health insurance books as requested by the human resources department.
• Approved a one-year probation for department heads with salary increases on an employee's six-month and one-year anniversaries of employment, as recommended by the mayor.
• Approved two administrative assistant positions for the building and planning department instead of one office manager and one administrative assistant.
City council members are George Clemens, Jeff Grose, Bob Morrison, Jerry Patterson, Bill Rhoades, Charlie Smith and Joe Thallemer. [[In-content Ad]]