Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
North Bend council ups utility fees to fund repairs
By Patti Richter, Staff Writer
Thursday, August 14, 2003 | 1 comment(s)
The North Bend City Council unanimously approved increasing its sewer rates Tuesday night in order to make necessary repairs.
The resolution, retroactive to Aug. 1, increased monthly rates by almost $5 to $25.25 per month for residential customers. Other users also will pay $25.25 per month up to 800 cubic feet, plus an additional $1.79 for every 100 cubic feet in excess. The rate increase is expected to raise about $200,000 each year for necessary repairs and capital replacements.
City Administrator Jan Willis said the increases implemented by the city in the past have been "mere pennies."
"We've probably waited too long to put money into a reserve," she added.
Councilor Janet Rubin said she has watched other South Coast communities recently agree to shoulder large sewer bills - figures that make her cringe - in order to make necessary repairs. Winchester Bay residents recently agreed to pay a $70-a-month charge to make repairs to its treatment plant, she added.
Councilor Howard Graham asked if this increase would be the last residents would see for awhile, or would the wastewater department be back in January asking for another.
Wastewater Superintendent Bob Dillard said this increase will be in affect for three or four years.
After the council approved the motion, Bay Area resident Jane Hatfield asked the council if there was a way multi-family housing units could get some relief from the increased sewer bills. Owners pay the same rate for each unit whether it is rented or not, she said.
"You are pricing us out of here," Hatfield said. "People who live in apartments use less water and sewer, and yet, we still pay the same fee."
Dillard said he did a study several years ago that tried to determine the amount of water and sewer utilities used by apartment dwellers versus home owners. In the end, he said the figures were very similar.
Hatfield said the increase will have a significant impact on her business. For her corporation, Hi-Valley Development Corp., the rate increase means paying an additional $9,400 a month for water and sewer use.
"That's a lot of money," she said.
Mayor Rick Wetherell said the city would look into the issue and get back to her at a later date.
The resolution, retroactive to Aug. 1, increased monthly rates by almost $5 to $25.25 per month for residential customers. Other users also will pay $25.25 per month up to 800 cubic feet, plus an additional $1.79 for every 100 cubic feet in excess. The rate increase is expected to raise about $200,000 each year for necessary repairs and capital replacements.
City Administrator Jan Willis said the increases implemented by the city in the past have been "mere pennies."
"We've probably waited too long to put money into a reserve," she added.
Councilor Janet Rubin said she has watched other South Coast communities recently agree to shoulder large sewer bills - figures that make her cringe - in order to make necessary repairs. Winchester Bay residents recently agreed to pay a $70-a-month charge to make repairs to its treatment plant, she added.
Councilor Howard Graham asked if this increase would be the last residents would see for awhile, or would the wastewater department be back in January asking for another.
Wastewater Superintendent Bob Dillard said this increase will be in affect for three or four years.
After the council approved the motion, Bay Area resident Jane Hatfield asked the council if there was a way multi-family housing units could get some relief from the increased sewer bills. Owners pay the same rate for each unit whether it is rented or not, she said.
"You are pricing us out of here," Hatfield said. "People who live in apartments use less water and sewer, and yet, we still pay the same fee."
Dillard said he did a study several years ago that tried to determine the amount of water and sewer utilities used by apartment dwellers versus home owners. In the end, he said the figures were very similar.
Hatfield said the increase will have a significant impact on her business. For her corporation, Hi-Valley Development Corp., the rate increase means paying an additional $9,400 a month for water and sewer use.
"That's a lot of money," she said.
Mayor Rick Wetherell said the city would look into the issue and get back to her at a later date.
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines