Syracuse Introduces Ordinance To Increase Water, Sewer Rates
April 18, 2018 at 8:02 p.m.
SYRACUSE – A portion of an intersection became right-turn only, a sewer rate increase was introduced and a state representative spoke at the Syracuse Town Council meeting Tuesday night.
Drivers approaching Huntington Street from the west on Railroad Street will have to turn right at the intersection as soon as signage is posted. The council approved the measure unanimously without discussion.
An ordinance was introduced that will raise water and sewer rates. For metered customers, there will be a fixed-rate charge of $3.92 per month, then $11.09 per 1,000 gallons of water used. Sewer service will have a minimum charge of $14.97. Unmetered water customers, of which there are few, will pay $44.22 a month in a single-family dwelling unit.
Laundromats will pay $145.67 per washer per month, and most business establishments, schools and churches have a per-person rate. Restaurants and bars have a rate based on seating capacity, and rates for organizations are based on the number of members.
The ordinance will be open for public discussion at the May 15 council meeting, and a vote on the measure is expected then.
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A third ordinance that would have passed along the cost of hiring a collection agency to delinquent water/sewer account holders was tabled until next month. Council member Larry Siegel wanted to ensure that renters, not property owners, are being held accountable for final billings. Siegel was not convinced the ordinance would prevent that.
St. Joseph River Basin Commission director Matt Meersman addressed the council.
Meersman, who addressed the county commissioners earlier Tuesday, said each of the six Indiana counties in the basin commission are now represented by county surveyors and the water conservation district as well as the previous three spots held by local government officials. Meersman told council president Bill Musser he holds a seat on the river basin board and Musser can name a proxy if he chooses.
Siegel asked both State Rep. Curt Nisly and Meersman for help in securing financing to replace the dam at Crosson Mill Park, across from the town hall. The dam has deteriorated over time and the situation needs to be addressed, with funding the main roadblock.
Town manager Henry DeJulia asked the council to approve $20,000 to hire London-Woody for preparation of a bond ordinance for renovations of the wastewater plant, and up to $28,000 to hire the firm of Barnes and Thornberg as counsel for the bond. The funds are part of the $1.3 million already approved for the project, and were approved.
Chad Jonsson, parks director, said the community center had plenty of events booked over the last two months. He said the local Pitch, Hit and Run competition will be at 10 a.m. April 28 at Schrock Field. The annual “Touch a Truck” event will be at 10 a.m. May 5 at the community center, 1013 N. Long Dr.
Jonsson said the Farmers Market at Crosson Mill Park will open for the season on May 12.
There will also be a tree planting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lauderman Park. The public is invited to help plant 30 trees, and it was suggested people bring shovels, as the number provided will be limited.
Jonsson also presented Musser with an Arbor Day proclamation, which Musser read and signed.
Rob Merchant, public works superintendent, proposed rebuilding sidewalks and curbs on the northwest corner of Huntington and Main Streets.
Merchant said business owners pointed out the walkways are cracked and uneven, and it would make an ideal project for the town’s sidewalk replacement program.
The town will spend $5,500 on materials and public works employees will provide the labor. There will still be a little money left for smaller sidewalk projects if need be.
Merchant said letters were sent to homeowners in the Fox Run subdivision, inviting them to get on the city water system. He said the letter made it clear annexation wouldn’t be requested, and the infrastructure for adding those residents as customers is already in place.
The council also approved Merchant’s request for $107,898 for monitoring and alarm equipment for the wastewater plant and the town’s eight lift stations.
NIPSCO has given the town a pair of grants to the public works department; one for $62,000 for an energy-efficient HVAC system at the wastewater plant and $450 for a heating unit in the plant.
The council agreed to make over the town’s snowflake/holiday streetlight decorations with LED lighting. The move is expected to cost about $300 per decoration, but will virtually eliminate the cost of power. Merchant said is currently costs $13,000 to power the decorations each season, and with the LED’s the cost will drop to less than $700.
The next Syracuse Town Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 15 at the town hall, 310 N. Huntington St.
SYRACUSE – A portion of an intersection became right-turn only, a sewer rate increase was introduced and a state representative spoke at the Syracuse Town Council meeting Tuesday night.
Drivers approaching Huntington Street from the west on Railroad Street will have to turn right at the intersection as soon as signage is posted. The council approved the measure unanimously without discussion.
An ordinance was introduced that will raise water and sewer rates. For metered customers, there will be a fixed-rate charge of $3.92 per month, then $11.09 per 1,000 gallons of water used. Sewer service will have a minimum charge of $14.97. Unmetered water customers, of which there are few, will pay $44.22 a month in a single-family dwelling unit.
Laundromats will pay $145.67 per washer per month, and most business establishments, schools and churches have a per-person rate. Restaurants and bars have a rate based on seating capacity, and rates for organizations are based on the number of members.
The ordinance will be open for public discussion at the May 15 council meeting, and a vote on the measure is expected then.
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A third ordinance that would have passed along the cost of hiring a collection agency to delinquent water/sewer account holders was tabled until next month. Council member Larry Siegel wanted to ensure that renters, not property owners, are being held accountable for final billings. Siegel was not convinced the ordinance would prevent that.
St. Joseph River Basin Commission director Matt Meersman addressed the council.
Meersman, who addressed the county commissioners earlier Tuesday, said each of the six Indiana counties in the basin commission are now represented by county surveyors and the water conservation district as well as the previous three spots held by local government officials. Meersman told council president Bill Musser he holds a seat on the river basin board and Musser can name a proxy if he chooses.
Siegel asked both State Rep. Curt Nisly and Meersman for help in securing financing to replace the dam at Crosson Mill Park, across from the town hall. The dam has deteriorated over time and the situation needs to be addressed, with funding the main roadblock.
Town manager Henry DeJulia asked the council to approve $20,000 to hire London-Woody for preparation of a bond ordinance for renovations of the wastewater plant, and up to $28,000 to hire the firm of Barnes and Thornberg as counsel for the bond. The funds are part of the $1.3 million already approved for the project, and were approved.
Chad Jonsson, parks director, said the community center had plenty of events booked over the last two months. He said the local Pitch, Hit and Run competition will be at 10 a.m. April 28 at Schrock Field. The annual “Touch a Truck” event will be at 10 a.m. May 5 at the community center, 1013 N. Long Dr.
Jonsson said the Farmers Market at Crosson Mill Park will open for the season on May 12.
There will also be a tree planting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lauderman Park. The public is invited to help plant 30 trees, and it was suggested people bring shovels, as the number provided will be limited.
Jonsson also presented Musser with an Arbor Day proclamation, which Musser read and signed.
Rob Merchant, public works superintendent, proposed rebuilding sidewalks and curbs on the northwest corner of Huntington and Main Streets.
Merchant said business owners pointed out the walkways are cracked and uneven, and it would make an ideal project for the town’s sidewalk replacement program.
The town will spend $5,500 on materials and public works employees will provide the labor. There will still be a little money left for smaller sidewalk projects if need be.
Merchant said letters were sent to homeowners in the Fox Run subdivision, inviting them to get on the city water system. He said the letter made it clear annexation wouldn’t be requested, and the infrastructure for adding those residents as customers is already in place.
The council also approved Merchant’s request for $107,898 for monitoring and alarm equipment for the wastewater plant and the town’s eight lift stations.
NIPSCO has given the town a pair of grants to the public works department; one for $62,000 for an energy-efficient HVAC system at the wastewater plant and $450 for a heating unit in the plant.
The council agreed to make over the town’s snowflake/holiday streetlight decorations with LED lighting. The move is expected to cost about $300 per decoration, but will virtually eliminate the cost of power. Merchant said is currently costs $13,000 to power the decorations each season, and with the LED’s the cost will drop to less than $700.
The next Syracuse Town Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 15 at the town hall, 310 N. Huntington St.