Sewer rates will go up again in Mentone effective Jan. 1 to help pay for the new wastewater treatment plant.
During a special meeting Monday night, councilmen Tim Croy and Jill Gross approved an ordinance to increase the sewer rates. Councilman Jack Simpson did not attend the meeting. Simpson was also absent at the June 7 regular meeting.
No members of the public were present Monday either to voice opposition to the new sewer rates.
John Umbaugh, of Umbaugh & Associates, said the bids for the bonds for the project will be opened today at 11 a.m. He would contact Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross afterward to report how the bid opening went.
He said he knew of at least two bidders who were going to submit bids, and maybe a third. Last week the bond market held steady so it should be nice today.
Efforts to build a new sewage works began in late 2007. Bids for the project were received in May.
The total estimated project cost is $1,655,000, with about $600,000 coming from an Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant.
In May, the town received bids from five different contractors, and the town board accepted those bids at a special meeting. One bidder, G&O, was too low at $807,600 and opted out of the project.
The next lowest bidder was RE Crosby at $1,124,199.
In April, the town board enacted phase I of new sewer rate increases to help pay for the new sewage works plant.
The current monthly bill for a customer who uses 4,000 gallons a month is $28.17, according to Ross. With phase II rate going into effect Jan. 1, the rate will increase another $16.73 to $44.90 for a monthly bill of 4,000 gallons.
At the June 7 meeting, the town board introduced the new sewer rates ordinance for phase II and set a public hearing on the new sewer rates for June 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building.
