CLAYPOOL – Town council members may examine sewer rates early next year now that the sewer bond is paid off.
Council President Don Miller said Monday the new council may look at sewer rates, which some residents say are higher than their electric or gas bills. Repayment of the bond to finance the town wastewater treatment plant has been reflected in sewer bills for the past few years, but Claypool made its last payment in the summer.
Sewer customer Paula Leiter asked during the meeting how payoff of the bond will affect rates. She lives just outside of town and pays a base rate rather than by usage.
The council may have to hire an auditor for the sewer department in considering a rate change, Miller said. He cautioned that the last auditor said the department was “in serious trouble” because the rates were too low, and had recommended raising rates 150 percent.
He noted that the department has to keep up with state requirements and keep its equipment up to date. It’s also difficult for a town the size of Claypool to maintain its own facility, he said, since costs are spread out among so few people.
Leiter said she hopes that since money is no longer going toward the bond, the extra amount from sewer bills goes into an emergency account so rates don’t have to be raised. She added she would be OK if rates didn’t go down so long as they don’t go up.
The newly elected council members, who will take their seats in January, were sworn in later in the meeting. New members Tom Burnworth and Niki Miller will join re-elected member Don Miller.
New Clerk-Treasurer Micah Shepherd was also sworn in.
Also during the meeting, the council agreed to write a policy on disposing of scrap metal. Resident Paul Berkey said he wanted something in writing since money from scrap metal doesn’t currently go into Claypool’s coffers.
Miller also announced Monday that the Indiana Department of Transportation will hold a meeting next month to discuss with emergency services the closure of the Ind. 15 overpass. He said it’s not a public meeting, but suggested residents with questions relay them through the comment box outside town hall.
The closure is scheduled to begin the week after Feb. 20, he said.
