Public Meetings On Sewer Upgrades Drawing Minimal Interest So Far
Posted
Dan Spalding-dspalding@timesuniononline.com
Mayor Joe Thallemer wants to make sure residents understand the changes coming up as Warsaw prepares to undergo the most expensive public works project in city history.
Thallemer laid out his plans at a council meeting Monday in which he shared details on two proposed rate hikes that are planned over the next 16 months.
In an effort to get the word out, the city scheduled four neighborhood meetings about the rate hikes and reasons behind the need for the large amount of work that awaits.
But interest at the first two meetings was slim. In fact, attendees at the first two meetings could be counted on one hand and those at the second meeting Thursday were outnumbered by council members who showed up to hear a recap.
Thallemer said he expected more people to attend.
“I am surprised. Obviously, we will continue to do our scheduled meetings and hope attendance picks up a little bit,” he said.
Council will vote next month on the first rate hike, a 20 percent increase that will go into effect Jan. 1. Combined with a second increase a year later, customers will be looking at a boost in their bills by about 39 percent – from $32 to approximately $44.
Action next month will also set the stage for changes in the way the city bills residential customers.
Thallemer has proposed shifting all residential customers who use Indiana American Water to a metered fee rather than the traditional flat rate. It will not affect residents who use a well.
That means at least 85 percent of all residential customers will make the change to bills based on usage.
The city’s flat rate has been based on 4,800 gallons of water used per month. That will continue to be the basis for charges, but residents may see a difference in their bill depending on whether they use more or less water, Thallemer said.
That portion of the bill will also come with a $12 base fee.
The $41 million price tag for the two-pronged plan comes as the city faces “critical, emergent repairs” and at the same time, is under a mandate from the state to expand capacity at the treatment plant.
The crumbling sewer lines and manholes have become a public safety concern this year. Officials have documented three cases in recent months that caused sections of roads to collapse after the ground underneath had given way around leaking pipes.
The oldest sewer lines date back to 1899 and most of those are in the immediate downtown area.
“Potentially, if we do nothing, we will implode. We’ve had three major breaches and washouts and road failures,” Thallemer said.
The first phase of work – expected to cost $10.1 million – will begin next year and involve replacing or repairing much of the underground infrastructure.
Priorities for the work are based on evidence collected from video. Nearly the entire system has been documented.
Much of the work will involve installing a new lining inside existing pipes, a process that Thallemer said has proven to be a “tried and true” method that will extend the life expectancy of the pipes up to 50 years.
The lining process also will be used to repair manholes, but can’t be used on smaller diameter pipes. Those will have to be replaced.
The second phase – expected to be about $30 million – will begin later and involves expanding the treatment plant so that capacity can grow from 4 million gallons per day to 6 million per day.
The expansion includes a footprint for more expansion down the road when needed.
Thallemer estimates the city will gain 20 years before reaching capacity again.
Raising a utility rate by nearly 40 percent in less than two years might potentially prompt some level of ire in some communities, but Thallemer said he’s heard virtually no complaints or opposition to the city plan.
Compared to other cities of similar size, Warsaw’s current rate has been one of the lowest in the state.
The two combined hikes will put the city closer to the middle, comparatively.
The upcoming neighborhood presentations will last an hour and will include maps, charts and timelines. There will be time for questions and comments from the public.
Utility Manager Brian Davison is also attending the meetings to answer questions.
The next meetings are Tuesday at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds and Oct. 4 at the Pete Thorn Center, 800 N. Park Ave.
