Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY – At Tuesday night's meeting the South Whitley Council held a public hearing for the wastewater rate increase ahead of the regular meeting, where officer Michael DeLong was sworn in as deputy marshal.
The public hearing opened with an overview of the wastewater project by town attorney Gregg Hockemeyer, followed by a financial breakdown by Kimberlee Savick of Baker Tilly.
Hockemeyer said the town has been required by IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management) to reduce sewer overflows.
South Whitley is classified as a "CSO" or "Combined Sewer Overflow" community, meaning both sanitary waste and stormwater have been combined. Improvement projects mandated at the state level are to rectify this and to reduce the amount of sewage in the Eel River.
Utilities Superintendent Kent Slater said this has been an ongoing project since 1999.
The last major wastewater project and subsequent rate increase was eight years ago, in 2018.
The current project totals $5.5 million, with $4 million of the costs covered by an SRF, or state revolving fund, forgivable loan. Savick said between the $4 million and $21,000 of cash on hand, the town's remaining bond for this project will be $1,513,000 with a low interest rate of 3.12%.
The rate increase for an average user of 4,000 gallons per month will be $7.78, increasing from a monthly average of $90.28 to $98.06.
Savick said since this is the first increase since 2018, that breaks out to roughly a 1% increase per year across the eight-year period.
Council President Brock Waterson reminded the public that these utility improvements are state-mandated and that it is unlawful to run a public utility at a deficit.
The rate ordinance is available at the clerk's office for the public's review. Following no public comment, the council unanimously approved the rate increase and closed the public hearing.
During the regular meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Alyssa Knepple swore in Deputy Marshal Michael DeLong, who has already begun his new position within the department.
Council also heard that the redevelopment commission, represented by Karen Jordan, has ten trees lined up for planting on residents' properties at a total cost of $6,877. The trees are part of an opt-in program with residents.
Council approved claims totaling $1,003,000.32 which includes the last payment for the latest Community Crossings grant-funded street project.
Council will next meet at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10.
