06-28-10 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 28, 2010 Ms. Catherine Pittman, 2628 Summit Ridge, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is an avid kayaker and would like to see the city invest in keeping the river clean. She stated that she has seen improvement in the river and this bill will allow the Waste Water Treatment Plant to be able to keep the sewer overflows out of the river and be better for future generations. Mr. Tony Flora, 202 E. Angela, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor of this bill. Mr. Flora advised that he is not a native South Bend resident; however, he was in shock and dismay when he learned that the sewer and sanitary systems were combined. He stated that he would rather pay a little more in tax instead of having his basement flooded. The following individuals spoke in opposition to the bill: Ms. Patricia G. Smith, 817 N. O’Brien, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in opposition to this bill. Ms. Smith suggested that the city could cut down on some expenses like billing for water insurance, late fees and stop sending return address envelopes. She also would like to see tax eliminated from the bill. She encouraged the Council Members to look into how many unemployed customers have had their service disconnected. She stated that this is not the time to raise rates when the economy has been in such bad shape and people are finding it hard enough to find a job, pay their bills and keep food on the table. She stated that she tries to pay her bill but still has an outstanding balance of $102.13. She urged the Council to reject this bill. Jesse Davis, 1333 E. Calvert, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in opposition to this bill. Mr. Davis stated that he is local sewer contractor and now is not the time to raise rates. He stated that the Federal Government says that the economy is getting better, but in this area it is not. Mr. Davis questioned why this has to be done all of sudden. He asked the Council to keep the rate increase at a pace that can be accepted. He asked if businesses get a break on their water bill, such as the University of Notre Dame. He urged the Council to vote unfavorably on this bill. Mr. Thomas Burnett, 18907 Cleveland Road, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in opposition to this bill. Mr. Burnett noted that he lives in St. Joseph County; however, he believes that he will be eventually annexed into the City and therefore will have to pay for this increase. He stated that if rates go up he will have to pay more to have his septic pumped. He encourages the Council to pay over a slower period of time. Mr. Burnett stated that the rate payers cannot pay for this in such a short amount of time. Mr. Burnett asked the Council to reconsider this bill. Mr. Cecil Breden, 19590 Darden Road, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in opposition to this bill. Mr. Breden stated that he too lives in St. Joseph County, however, he is speaking for all the residents living in the city on a fixed income. He stated that this rate increase is just too much for anyone to pay for. He urged the Council to vote against this bill. Mr. Jim Grey, 2903 Erskine Boulevard, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in opposition to this bill. Mr. Grey stated that his bill averages about $70.00 a month in the fall and between $90.00 and $100.00 during the summer. He stated that this is too much of a rate increase and asked the Council to vote against this bill. In Rebuttal, Mayor Luecke advised that he wanted to address some of the concerns raised. He stated that when sewer rates increased in stages by a cumulative 79 percent between 2006 and 2009, proposed rate increases over the next four years will be about half as much. He 11