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1316 COUNTY-CITY BUILDING <br />227 W. JEFFERSON BOULEVARD <br />SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 46601-1830 <br />CITY OF SOITfH BEND STEPHEN J. LiIECKE, MAYOR <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />GARY A. GILOT, P.E. <br />DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />October 4, 2005 <br />Mrs. Charlotte D. Pfeifer <br />President, Common Council <br />Of the City of South Bend <br />400 County City Building <br />South Bend, Indiana 46601 <br />PHONE 574/ 235-9251 <br />FAx 574/235-9171 <br />TDD 574/ 235-5567 <br />Re: Ordinance Amending Chapter 17, Article Two, Division 4, Section 17-21 of <br />the South Bend Municipal Code Regarding The Determination of Sewage <br />Rates. <br />Dear Mrs. Pfeifer: <br />Enclosed is a copy of a proposed ordinance relating to rate increases for Sewage Works. <br />The purpose of the increase is to allow the Sewage Works Utility to meet its on-going and future <br />revenue needs. Dollars paid into this fund cover the operation, maintenance, debt service, and <br />capital expenses of the Bureau of Sewers and the Bureau of Wastewater. <br />South Bend has invested a great deal in early action projects over the last 15 years. This <br />is acknowledged by IDEM and EPA and yet they are pressing South Bend and other cities with <br />combined sewers to implement long term control plans that take it to the next level in achieving <br />the goals of the Clean Water Act. This will mean the largest environmental infrastructure <br />investment program in the history of this commllnit}' and will begin a phased and prioritized <br />effort that will span the next two decades. We will focus first on relief for neighborhoods with <br />chronic sewage backup issues during heavy rains. We will also focus first on the most cost <br />effective means of reducing large volume overflows of sewage to the St. Joseph River. The vast <br />majority of the rate increases are for capital expenditures for these projects which we will detail <br />in our presentation. As we capture and treat more stormwater and sewage, we will also see <br />upward pressure on operation and maintenance expense reflected in the rates over the next four <br />years. <br />A Rate and Financing Report was performed by Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP, and <br />acts as support for the increase. The rates as proposed are "across the board" increases to all of <br />our customers. The increases will affect both the flow and the fixed meter portions of our rate <br />equation. It will also increase the "Extra Strength Surcharges" charged to customers who <br />discharge waste that is above "normal" strength. <br />ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES CENTRAL SERVICES STREETS WATER WORKS <br />CARL LITTRELL, P.E. JOHN J. DILLON, PH.D. MATT CHLEBOWSKI SAM HENSLEY JOHN F. STANCATI <br />574/235-9251 574/277-8515 574/235-9316 574/235-9244 574/235-9322 <br />Fax 574/235-9171 FAx 574/277-8980 Fax 574/235-9007 Fax 574/235-9272 Fax 574/235-9728 <br />