Higher operating expenses require sewer rate increase

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Construction: Member Dennis Moeller (right) looks over plans presented by Jeff Paul (left) for the construction of the onion dome on Holy Family Parish’s stone church.

September 11, 2009

Diane Raver The Batesville Herald Tribune Fri Sep 11, 2009, 08:08 AM EDT

Oldenburg residents and property owners may soon be paying more on their monthly sewer bills.

“It seems as though our sewage is not being charged correctly, and we need to have an increase,” reported Oldenburg Town Council member Greg Struewing at the Sept. 8 meeting.

Town attorney Tom O’Connor read a proposed ordinance that stated the last rate increase was in 2003. Since then, “the town of Oldenburg has increased capacity, repaired and extended lines and has been mandated to change operation and provide additional services, all requiring more operating expenses.”

The water usage schedule on which the proposed sewer rates and charges are based is $12.48 per 1,000 gallons for the first 3,000 gallons; $7.04 per 1,000 gallons for the next 7,000 gallons; $5.08 per 1,000 gallons for the next 10,000 gallons; and $3.66 per 1,000 gallons for over 20,000 gallons.

The minimum charge would be $37.44 per month compared to about $26 currently.

Member Dennis Moeller asked, “How do those rates compare to Batesville?”

Struewing did not have that information available, but said, “Metamora pays $80 for their minimum.

“One of the things discussed in our utility board meeting that got us to this point ... is that we are looking for grant money to work on (sewer) issues .... If we have any problems, we don’t have any money built up.”

Moeller expressed concern that customers who use more volume pay less per gallon. “You probably went with an already existing ladder structure (for the rates) .... (but) the bigger users aren’t paying their fair share.”

O’Connor suggested asking utility clerk Ruth Cooper for the number of customers in each consumption category, and indicated, “I’m almost sure the school (Oldenburg Academy) and the Sisters (of St. Francis) are the only ones using over 20,000 gallons,” with everyone else on the low end of the scale.

The final reading of this ordinance will be Oct. 5, the attorney noted. “At that meeting, anybody can raise any questions they have.”

Diane Raver can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 114; or diane.raver@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com.

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