Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NAPPANEE - With a number of major projects on the horizon, and all of them involving water and sewer main work, the Nappanee Board of Public Works and Safety has been looking into the possibility of a minor hike in rates.
Todd Samuelson of H.J. Umbaugh and Associates, Plymouth, has been researching the issue, working to compile increases that would result in nominal raises for minimum and average users.
At the same time, enough funds would have to be generated by the extra revenue to help pay for the major endeavors, namely, the Walnut Street extension project, the Oakland Avenue (CR 7) widening project and the Pleasant Acres housing development.
Samuelson's recommendations were broken down into categories for water and sewer, plus what constitutes the average user. For water usage and sewage output, a 5,000-gallon per month figure was how Samuelson described an average user. Presently, residents in this category pay approximately $17.19 per month for city sewer and $11.14 for water. Samuelson's proposal included a boost of 69 cents monthly on the sewer bill, bringing the new rate up to $17.88. Water rates would climb $1.85, upping the monthly charge to $13.
Minimum users who fall below the 5,000-gallon capacity could be subject to a 23-cent boost in sewer rates, configuring the monthly bill from $5.85 to $6.08. Meanwhile, an uppage of $1 may be in the works for sewer, taking the rates from $6.10 to $7.10 per month.
The proposed rates will be submitted to the common council. City attorney Brian Hoffer will draft an ordinance to deal with the rate increase, which must pass through a system of three readings and a public hearing.
Nappanee residents were last subjected to a water rate increase in 1994, and in 1995, the sewer rates followed with a climb.
Residents are being asked by Nappanee Police Chief Ray Carich to be aware of new stop signs in a pair of city alleyways. Signs will soon be installed in the east-west alley behind South Locke Street, north of Randolph Street. More signage will be in place at the north-south thoroughfare linking East Walnut and East Centennial streets, just west of North Main and east of North Elm.
Carich had recommended to the board that the stop sign be added, because both alleys have been improved through paving via the city's street department. The new surfaces, Carich explained, often tempt people to drive faster.
