South Bend Tribune
GILBERT A. CIPRIANO Tribune Correspondent
December 11, 2000
WALKERTON — A plan to juggle electrical and sewer rates might actually save the average utility user about a penny a month, according to the Town Council.
In an attempt to bolster the waste-water department's declining finances, the council is considering an option presented by Todd Samuelson, accountant manager of H.J. Umbaugh and Associates, to cut electrical rates and raise sewer rates by an average of $5 each.
In the proposed new rates, a resident using an average of 600 kilowatt hours of electricity per month should see a drop in the electric bill from $37.04 to $31.48, a decrease of $5.56.
For a resident using an average of 5,000 gallons of water per month, the sewer bill should rise from $22.20 to $27.75, or a rise of $5.55.
"We've noticed through our monthly tracking that the waste-water plant has been losing money over the past year," said Town Council President Randy Hoover.
By lowering the electric rates while raising the sewer rates, council members felt it was the fairest way to solve a waste-water department potential financial problem without affecting the overall cost of utilities.
A public hearing must be called to discuss two proposed ordinances for the electrical and sewer rates before the council gives its final approval.
After approval of the ordinances, the new rates are expected to go into effect on the February bills.
In a related issue, the council approved a resolution to spend $5,000 to complete a study for the conversion of the waste-water treatment plant from its present use of an aerated lagoon treatment to a sequential batch reactor.
The installation of a SBR-type treatment is expected to help alleviate the problem of excessive ammonia-nitrogen in the waste water.
The use of a solar aerator/mixer, called the "PondDR," over the past year failed to improve the removal rate of the ammonia- nitrogen, according to Streets and Wasterwater Supervisor Jeff Zehner.
State Department of Environmental Management rules require the town to have a waste-water system in place by the spring of 2002 in compliance with ammonia-nitrogen emission standards.
Zehner also reported that IDEM approved a Phase I Wellhead Protection delineation area plan submitted by the town's Wellhead Advisory Board.
With a completed map of the town water area to be protected, Zehner said, the community can proceed with the next steps outlined in the Indiana Wellhead Protection plan, including public participation in a wellhead protection local planning team, followed by identification of potential sources of contamination in the wellhead protection area and contingency plans to meet any future problems.
Bob Stephens, a residential developer in the South Bend-Mishawaka area, proposed to develop single and multifamily residences on an 80- acre piece of property beyond the town limits north of Tyler Road.
The council invited Stephens to a special meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 18, where his proposal may be further discussed. A Bremen official will present that community's plan to increase residential development in that area.
The council approved:
The resignation of Jon Pairitz as town building commissioner. The council also approved a resolution commending Pairitz for his four- year service.
A recommendation for attorney Fred Jones to complete the sale for the Max Wolfe property north of town for eventual construction of a new town water well.
© 2000 South Bend Tribune. via Bell&Howell Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
