The St. Joseph Village Board is expected to continue discussing the timeline for the upcoming sewer rate increase roll out at its meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at village hall.
Last month, the village board voted to have Village Attorney Joe Lierman prepare an ordinance that would increase sewer rates. The board is expected to vote on that at an upcoming meeting this Spring.
The board has decided to change sewer billing from bi-monthly to monthly in addition to raising rates.
According to paperwork provided to the village from engineering firm Clark Dietz,
Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges told the board that many residents in St. Joseph who are elderly or on a fixed income only pay the base rate since they do not use as much water as a family of four.
The village currently bills using cubic feet.
In 2020 the village would raise the base fee to $17.50.
In 2021 the base fee increases to $20 a month. By 2033 the base rate would be $25.30 per month.
The base fee would continue to rise each year.
The village will also be raising the usage fee. Currently, the usage fee is $3.75 per 750 gallons of water used after the first 1,500 gallons.
Clark Dietz recommended raising the usage fee to $5.25.
In 2020 the rate would increase to $7 and in 2021 the rate would increase to $9.
The village feels the increase is needed to maintain the sewer plant, perform required upgrades and expand the plant in the future.
Trustee Art Rapp voted against the increase and asking Lierman to prepare an ordinance because he wanted the public notified before the board moved forward with the
The rate increase is not final until the ordinance is voted on sometime this Spring.
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