HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-11-80 Utilities & Public Works •
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September 11, 1980
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Utilities and Public Works Committee
The September 8 , 1980 combined meeting of the Utilities
Committee and the Public Works Committee was called to order by the
Utility Committee Chairman, Councilman Walter Szymkowiak at 7 :00
p.m. in the Council Meeting Room.
Persons in attendance included the following: Councilmen
Taylor, Szymkowiak, Kopczynski, Dombrowski, Crone, McGann, Voorde;
Citizen Members Orvis Hart, Alex Deranek, and Gregory Tkachyk; City
Engineer Pat McMahon; Mike Smith from Coopers and Lybrand; John
Leszezynski; Mr. Knoll; Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney
and members of the news media; Councilman Beck arrived later.
Councilman Szymkowiak stated that this meeting was to continue
discussion on the proposed rate increase for water and wastewater
services which began at the August 20th meeting. He then turned
the meeting over to Pat McMahon.
Mr. McMahon then reviewed two handouts recently sent to the
Council. The first handout dated September 2, 1980 reviewed how
the $3. 00 minimum charge would affect shelters , convents , trailer
courts, governmental housing, hotels, motels and apartments.
Discussion followed with the Committee unanimously recommending
that all of these categories be included. Mr. McMahon stated he
would prepare the necessary amendments.
Discussion then took place on the September 4th handout which
showed that approximately $7 ,369. 29 would be needed per month to go
to a one-month billing cycle; or an additional rate increase of 5. 2%.
Councilman McGann suggested that other billing procedures be
investigated such as the double coupon procedure of Cablevision, the
budget procedure of NIPSCO, and Indiana and Michigan's. Pat McMahon
stated that he would check with other cities around the state.
John Leszezynski stated that meter readers were favored over
estimated billings since many water leaks have been determined.
Additionally he mentioned that many policy changes would have to be
made such as the 30-day grace period if the City would go to a one
month billing cycle, The Committees agreed that they must weigh
the citizens views on monthly billings vs. the costs of implementing
such a system.
Councilman Crone expressed her concern that the 5. 2% projection
appeared high, and that she hoped that the rates could be reduced
by a few percentage points.
The Committee agreed that a review every four (4) years of the
rates should be incorporated into each bill. The amendments were
to be prepared by the Council Attorney.
Fr. mess PUBLISHING CO.
September 11, 1980
Page Two
The meeting was then adjourned, but then reconvened to discuss
the committees overall recommendations on the bills, The Committees
agreed to accept the bills as proposed based on the information
available to date. However, it recommended that if the rates
could be reduced by including the new categories, that such
reductions be ready for Monday night's meeting.
There being no further business to come before the committees,
the meeting was adjourned at 8 :15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Walter Szymk:. -k
Utility Committee Chairman
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