Winona Lake Proposes 20% Sewer Rate Hike
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WINONA LAKE - Faced with a proposed 60 percent hike in sewer rates from Warsaw, Winona Lake is proposing 20 percent instead.
The Winona Lake Town Council approved the proposed rate recommendations at its meeting Tuesday night.
Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks proposed the 20-percent rate and said the town is still in sewer rate negotiations with Warsaw.
The rates will need to be approved by the Warsaw City Council.
The city council held a public hearing Aug. 21 where a proposed sewer rate ordinance was presented that would include a 60-percent increase in Winona Lake's rate.
The city council approved Warsaw's rates and charges for city sewage services at its Sept. 18 meeting. The rates and charges for Warsaw for all dwelling units, including single-family, duplexes, apartments, condominiums and mobile home courts will be a minimum of $30.80 per month for each dwelling unit.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said during the city council's Sept. 18 meeting the city wants the matter resolved so Winona Lake residents would see the rate increase on their bills beginning in January.
Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks said Winona Lake customers currently pay $35 for sewer services and the 20-percent increase would increase services by $7 a month.
Winona Lake sewer rates could increase to $56 a month if the proposed 60-percent sewer rates are approved by the city council.
Council member Dave Delp agreed with the 20-percent sewer rate proposal.
"I agree with the sewer rate and think we will receive a rate hike no matter what and should support our recommended sewer rate," Delp said.
Hicks said a public meeting will be held where residents can provide input regarding the proposed sewer rate.
Faced with the proposed 60-percent sewer rate increase from Warsaw, the town chose to conduct a feasibility study to determine if it should use Warsaw for wastewater service or proceed with the option of building its own treatment facility. The council approved Wightman Petrie to conduct a feasibility study to consider the town having its own sewer plant built during its Oct. 10 meeting. The company will conduct an in-depth discussion with operations staff and conduct analysis of the current operational conditions at the connection points to Warsaw's system, including a comparison to permit parameters and future needs. A letter was submitted by Tom Miller, area manager for Severn Trent Services Inc., at the Oct. 10 meeting stating he had spoken with Ken Jones, Wightman Petri president, and he assured that a complete water treatment plant study could be completed by the council's December meeting.
Michael Taylor, an Autumn Hills resident, attended Tuesday's meeting and came before the council with his concern regarding an ordinance the council passed in October 2005 stating a limitation on bows, arrows and sling shots in the town.
Taylor said he is a hunter and is requesting an amendment to the ordinance before hunting season ends. He informed the council deer hunting season begins Oct. 1 and ends the first week of January.
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach presented the ordinance to town council members during the meeting.
The ordinance states it is unlawful to discharge or cause to be propelled any arrow or other missile from a bow or slingshot, except at a practice target designed so as to prevent the ricochet or exit through such target of any such arrow or other missile.
The ordinance also includes a prohibition of firearms in the town including any pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun or firearm. The provisions do not apply to any police officer while in the discharge of their police duties.
Town Council President Rolly Ortega said the council will review the suggestion keeping in mind that residents' safety and hunters' needs are met and get back to Taylor.
The board also:
• Approved an agreement between the town and Bonar Group for construction engineering services for the CR 250E reconstruction project. The total cost of the agreement for construction inspection is $358,876.12. Allebach said Bonar Group representatives will attend the council's Nov. 28 meeting and discuss figures for the total cost of the project.
• Approved an ordinance for increasing fees for accident reports and a new application for a lifetime handgun license fee.
The Town Council and Winona Lake determined the existing fees for citizens to obtain accident reports is inadequate to offset the costs of the town having Town Marshal Paul Schmidt complete the necessary paperwork in issuing the report to citizens.
Citizens currently pay $3 to obtain an accident report and the council approved increasing the fee to $5 per accident report. The council also approved allowing hunters to purchase a lifetime handgun license for $100.
Hunters previously had to renew handgun licenses every four years.
Town Council President Rolly Ortega gave an update on upcoming events in Winona Lake. The Winona Lake Community Dinner will be held Friday at Rodeheaver Auditorium from 6 to 8 p.m. in conjunction with the Festival of Trees.
The Festival of Trees will continue through Nov. 22 from 3 to 8 p.m. daily at Rodeheaver Auditorium and features 53 designer trees for auction and sale.
A Holiday Festival will be held in Winona Lake Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and feature gingerbread house building, carriage rides and entertainment by local elementary schools.
The council will meet Nov. 28 at 7 a.m. at Winona Lake Town Hall. Council members are Ortega, Jeff Carroll, Jerry Clevenger, Dave Delp and Joy Lohse. [[In-content Ad]]
WINONA LAKE - Faced with a proposed 60 percent hike in sewer rates from Warsaw, Winona Lake is proposing 20 percent instead.
The Winona Lake Town Council approved the proposed rate recommendations at its meeting Tuesday night.
Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks proposed the 20-percent rate and said the town is still in sewer rate negotiations with Warsaw.
The rates will need to be approved by the Warsaw City Council.
The city council held a public hearing Aug. 21 where a proposed sewer rate ordinance was presented that would include a 60-percent increase in Winona Lake's rate.
The city council approved Warsaw's rates and charges for city sewage services at its Sept. 18 meeting. The rates and charges for Warsaw for all dwelling units, including single-family, duplexes, apartments, condominiums and mobile home courts will be a minimum of $30.80 per month for each dwelling unit.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said during the city council's Sept. 18 meeting the city wants the matter resolved so Winona Lake residents would see the rate increase on their bills beginning in January.
Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks said Winona Lake customers currently pay $35 for sewer services and the 20-percent increase would increase services by $7 a month.
Winona Lake sewer rates could increase to $56 a month if the proposed 60-percent sewer rates are approved by the city council.
Council member Dave Delp agreed with the 20-percent sewer rate proposal.
"I agree with the sewer rate and think we will receive a rate hike no matter what and should support our recommended sewer rate," Delp said.
Hicks said a public meeting will be held where residents can provide input regarding the proposed sewer rate.
Faced with the proposed 60-percent sewer rate increase from Warsaw, the town chose to conduct a feasibility study to determine if it should use Warsaw for wastewater service or proceed with the option of building its own treatment facility. The council approved Wightman Petrie to conduct a feasibility study to consider the town having its own sewer plant built during its Oct. 10 meeting. The company will conduct an in-depth discussion with operations staff and conduct analysis of the current operational conditions at the connection points to Warsaw's system, including a comparison to permit parameters and future needs. A letter was submitted by Tom Miller, area manager for Severn Trent Services Inc., at the Oct. 10 meeting stating he had spoken with Ken Jones, Wightman Petri president, and he assured that a complete water treatment plant study could be completed by the council's December meeting.
Michael Taylor, an Autumn Hills resident, attended Tuesday's meeting and came before the council with his concern regarding an ordinance the council passed in October 2005 stating a limitation on bows, arrows and sling shots in the town.
Taylor said he is a hunter and is requesting an amendment to the ordinance before hunting season ends. He informed the council deer hunting season begins Oct. 1 and ends the first week of January.
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach presented the ordinance to town council members during the meeting.
The ordinance states it is unlawful to discharge or cause to be propelled any arrow or other missile from a bow or slingshot, except at a practice target designed so as to prevent the ricochet or exit through such target of any such arrow or other missile.
The ordinance also includes a prohibition of firearms in the town including any pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun or firearm. The provisions do not apply to any police officer while in the discharge of their police duties.
Town Council President Rolly Ortega said the council will review the suggestion keeping in mind that residents' safety and hunters' needs are met and get back to Taylor.
The board also:
• Approved an agreement between the town and Bonar Group for construction engineering services for the CR 250E reconstruction project. The total cost of the agreement for construction inspection is $358,876.12. Allebach said Bonar Group representatives will attend the council's Nov. 28 meeting and discuss figures for the total cost of the project.
• Approved an ordinance for increasing fees for accident reports and a new application for a lifetime handgun license fee.
The Town Council and Winona Lake determined the existing fees for citizens to obtain accident reports is inadequate to offset the costs of the town having Town Marshal Paul Schmidt complete the necessary paperwork in issuing the report to citizens.
Citizens currently pay $3 to obtain an accident report and the council approved increasing the fee to $5 per accident report. The council also approved allowing hunters to purchase a lifetime handgun license for $100.
Hunters previously had to renew handgun licenses every four years.
Town Council President Rolly Ortega gave an update on upcoming events in Winona Lake. The Winona Lake Community Dinner will be held Friday at Rodeheaver Auditorium from 6 to 8 p.m. in conjunction with the Festival of Trees.
The Festival of Trees will continue through Nov. 22 from 3 to 8 p.m. daily at Rodeheaver Auditorium and features 53 designer trees for auction and sale.
A Holiday Festival will be held in Winona Lake Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and feature gingerbread house building, carriage rides and entertainment by local elementary schools.
The council will meet Nov. 28 at 7 a.m. at Winona Lake Town Hall. Council members are Ortega, Jeff Carroll, Jerry Clevenger, Dave Delp and Joy Lohse. [[In-content Ad]]