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S a V T.H#AEN 4 VOVEMbER 2005 �/�' % AAWM )OR Sir EN _ J. LUEckE ffGrants Letter from the Mayor TH1SMONTH... tter Dear Neighbors: It's no longer acceptable to have oval Guidelines The St. Joseph River has raw sewage overflowing into arded for Mayor's After School been the historic backbone in the people's basements and the river ms development of South Bend. It with nearly every rainfall. Development Opportunities served as a trading route for early We have not been standing still implement the plan,rate increases will be French explorers,it is where on this issue. Since the early 1990s, required every year or two for the next 20 LaSalle met with the Chiefs of the South Bend has spent more than years. 104 communities in Indiana and 772 Miami Nation,here. It has been $87 million on improvements that across the nation are facing additional costs and continues to be a catalyst for have reduced overflows by more and pressures to upgrade and maintain their investment.From Fr. Sorin- the than 300 million gallons per year. sewer systems. founder of Notre Dame to the early We must continue to address The City Council is now considering entrepreneurs including,South regulatory requirements and the a rate increase to finance the fast four years Bend Bait&Tackle, Studebaker, needs of our city for sewage of the plan.The table below shows the annual Oliver,and to all who continue to collection and treatment. South revenue needed in 2006-2009 for capital establish their businesses along the Bend,Elkhart,Mishawaka and improvements and operation and maintenance south bend of the St. Joseph River. many other cities are working with of the sewer system and treatment plant. More than 100 years ago, the U.S.Environmental South Bend built a sewer system to Protection Agency and the Average Monthly carry rainwater and melting snow Indiana Dept. of Year Annual Revenue Residentia1Bill away from homes,businesses, and Environmental Needed (5,000 Gallons) streets.Later as indoor plumbing Management on long-term Current(2005) $14,760,292 $16.77 was added, our sewers served plans to reduce overflows 2006 $18,912,979 $21.62 double duty carrying raw sewage to even further. 2007 $21552 478 $24.88 the river where it would be diluted South Bend has 2008 $23,743,729 $27.63 by the fast moving developed a 10-year,$118 2009 $25,814,795 $30.08 water. This was T erean million Clean River- The City of South Bend has been one of common Healthy Neighborhoods Plan that the state's leaders in reducing raw sewage practice in ne ,hborhoods will solve chronic sewage backups overflows, gaining recognition in the 1990s most cities and continue to improve sewage from the E.P.A.andLD.E.M.for its proactive in the Northeast and Midwest. In collection and treatment capabilities overflow reduction program. Even with these 1956 South Bend built a plant to thus reducing raw sewage over- proposed rate increases, the City's sewer treat sewage before it reached the flows into our river, by 38 percent rates remain competitive among other river. in a typical year. communities'. Unfortunately,untreated The plan which has been The St.Joseph River is an important sewage overflows into the river reviewed by the Sewer Advisory community resource enjoyed by our residents when the city's outdated sewer Committee,comprised of as well as visitors to our area—from Olympic- system,is overwhelmed by community leaders from neighbor- caliber kayakers and recreational canoeists incoming storm-water during heavy hoods,academia,business and to weekend sport fishermen. It's a resource rains or snow. These overflows labor,is consistent with the we need to protect. No one likes the idea of send 1.8 billion gallons of untreated Committee's recommendations that having to pay more for sewage rates,but the sewage into the river each year. In the City place the highest priority on tangible benefits of a clean river and healthy some neighborhoods,raw sewage solving chronic basement backups neighborhoods will be funded fairly by all--- backing up into people's basements and eliminating bottlenecks in the an historic environmental infrastructure is a chronic and recurring problem. existing sewer system. investment that we need to do. Please A 21s°Century city needs To meet increasingly contact us at 235-5858 x 2222 or email to take responsibility for the sewage stringent state and federal acleansb&ci.south-bend.in with your we create. regulatory requirements and to comments. Mayor Steve Visit the City of South Bend online at www.ci.south-bend.in.us