12-15-75 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 15, 1975 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 4207 ENTITLED, "AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INCREASE OF SEWAGE CHARGES TO ALL USERS OF CITY SEWER SERVICE OR CITY WATER SERVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPAIR AND /OR REPLACEMENT OF WATER SERVICE LINES, SHUT -OFF BOXES AND WATER METER MANHOLES (AS AMENDED) ". This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Paul Krueper, Manager of the Bureau of Water, made the presentation for the ordinance. He indicated that the ordinance would increase the monthly charge to water users for leak insurance. He stated that this was the first amend- ment to the ordinance since 1959. He read the following amendments which he asked be incorpora into the ordinance: Amend the Ordinance as submitted substituting for paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 the following: Section I That the sum of twenty -four (.24) cents per month be added to the water service charge of all water users. Section II That all of said sums of money collected bP deposited in a separate fund of the Bureau of Wastewater and that said funds be used solely for the repair and /or replacement of leaking water service lines and shut -off valves. Section III Funds so collected shall be used for the payment of repairs and /or replacement as provided herein from the water main to the front wall of any building, or a line extended therefrom, but it shall not insure any water service line under any porch, steps, slab foundation, crawl space, or in any room or space under any sidewalk. In the case of two inch lines or larger, the repairs provided hereunder shall extend from the water main to the property line only. Present section four is to be eliminated. In section five as submitted, on the third line, after the comma eliminate the word it, and insert the words, said service line and the tee, and after the word insured insert a comma. With the elimination of Section IV as submitted, Section V thru IX are hereby renumbered IV thru VIII. Councilman Taylor made a motion to amend the ordinance accordingly, seconded by Councilman Horvath. The motion carried. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, wondered if Mr. Krueper dould assure that the Water Department would assume the responsibility for most home owners of repairing any leak problems between the watermain and the foundation of the homes. Mr. Krueper stated that this has been the case all along. He indicated that this was provided in the ordinan( Mr. Evans did not understand why the money being received was going into the Waste Water Bureau. Mr. Krueper indicated that the Waste Water Bureau had never capitalized the money paid by the home onwer for the service line. Therefore, that part of the service was never depreciated. He indicated that, in cases where there were leaks, the leak insurance idea was developed. He state( that, originally, it was eight cents; then it went to twelve cents. He indicated that the money was deposited into the Waste Water Fund because otherwise the money would be included in the rate and would have to be approved by the Public Service Commission. Mr. Evans indicated that the Public Service Commission had made.>a ruling, though not officially or in writing, that it would not concern itself with public utility rates. He wondered about the adviseability of using that as a justification for the increase. Mrs. Goldie Minton, 753 Cottage Grove, talked about incident she had experienced with the South Bend Water Works in purchasing homes during the last few years She talked about breaks in the watermains and flooding of her basements, and she maintained that the Water Works had told her the repair of these lines was her responsibility. She wondered who had ever benefited from the leak insurance fund because she had never heard of any one who had. Councilman Kopczynski indicated that the increase was due to the fact that the water lines were plugging up. He felt no effort had been made to correct the situation and there was no question in his mind that the city was responsible for the plugging of the water lines. He indicated that the Council did not see fit to include supplying adequate water to the residents. He felt the city officials were "ducking the issue." He also felt some of the problems were being caused by the breaking loose of deposits in the.water line. He assured Mr. Krueper that he would not stop on that issue "until justice was done." Mr. Krueper indicated that he was aware of Councilman Kopczynski's concern. He stated that mains all over town have been plugging up and not just in the Sixth District. He indicated that samples had been taken at various locations and tests con- ducted. He stated that a caucus had been held a week ago and Councilman Kopczynski had not atten( He stated that, at that time, he had submitted an alternate amendment which the Council had decid( not to act upon. He felt the city would be "asking for financial problems" if some sort of leak insurance fund or measure was not utilized in the repair of the mains. He indicated that, in 195! the ordinance had been intended to cover stop boxes and one year later the stop boxes were elimini and the cost went from eight cents to twelve cents. He felt the Council should consider the financial consequences and the exorbitant cost involved in repairing all mains at one time. He stated that the process would be a slow one as time and money would permit. Councilman Miller recommended that the Water Works conduct a study in an effort to solve the problem of stopped -up service lines and come back to the Council with alternative measures. le. s ed