City water rates to rise (10/6/04)

Portland’s water rates are going to rise about six percent.

Portland City Council unanimously approved a new schedule of water rates and charges through first reading Monday night.

The monthly bill for a typical household will increase by $1.11 based on a 4,000 gallon usage, according to Todd Samuelson of H.J. Umbaugh & Associates of Plymouth. The fee hike would increase users’ bills to $19.59 per month from $18.48.

If the rate increase is approved on second reading, those who use an average of 2,500 gallons per month would see a 70 cent raise, and a 5,000 gallons user’s bill would increase by $1.40 per month.

Samuelson made the rate increase recommendation in September based on his study of the city’s water and sewer utility rates.

Jeff Rowe of H.J. Umbaugh & Associates, who was at Monday’s meeting, said the fee increase would help the water department generate an additional $69,108 in revenue per year. Rowe said the increase is necessary because operating expenses for the department continue to grow each year.

The amendment to the city’s ordinance also includes a $140 jump in water tap line fees. At the Sept. 7 meeting, Samuelson recommended the connection fee increase to $500 from $360. This covers the cost of connecting to the city’s water mains.

Before the council made its decision, a public hearing was held on the suggested water line and water service fees increases.

Portland resident Blaine Zimmerman spoke against the increase, asking council members what the extra money generated from the water service fees increase would be used for.

Mayor Bruce Hosier said the money would be used for the city’s capital improvement plan. It would go toward future projects, such as the Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project and the Lincoln Street project. No increase in the municipal water service fees has been made since the last study was conducted in 1994, he added.

“Our intention is that we try to meet our responsibilities and build our infrastructure for the city of Portland,” said Hosier.

Portland resident Randy Wehrly asked Hosier if the city had considered finding a way to cut costs, to eliminate the need to increase user fees. Hosier said there was a discussion at the beginning of the year on ways to eliminate costs.

“We have tried to take that approach,” he said. “We need to plan, I think, for the unknowns.”

Board of works member Robert McCreery supported the rate increase.

“In the last 10 years or so the water system has been pretty faithful,” McCreery said. “A small increase now is well-warranted.”

None of the council or audience members commented on the increase in water tap line fees.

Councilman Bill Gibson hesitated a moment before he voted yes for the increases. City Council president Glen Bryant explained why he was voting for the hikes, before he cast his vote.

“I was hoping there would be a lot of people here against (the increase),” he said. Since there were not, he sided with the other council members. Councilman Kip Robinette was not present.

Also Monday, a public hearing was held for a proposed $200 increase in municipal sewer tap line fees. No one discussed the suggested hike, which would amend the city’s sewage works schedule of rates and charges ordinance.

The increase would take the current rate from $300 to $500. The increase was approved on first reading in a 4 to 2 vote. Bryant and Gibson voted against the hike.

“I just think this was an unnecessary thing,” Bryant said after the meeting. He didn’t want to keep adding more expenses for Portland residents, he added.

Hosier said the second reading for all of the increases is set for Monday, Oct. 18.

In other business, the council unanimously voted to allow city attorney Bill Hinkle to change a city ordinance on behalf of a Portland business.

Owner and operator of Fisher Packing Co. John Fisher would like to expand his business by building a new area for fresh meat sales. In order to do this, he needs the city’s parking ordinance to be amended. This would allow him to have additional parking on Ship and Walnut streets.

Jay/ Portland Building and Planning administrator Bill Milligan said the issue doesn’t have to come before the Portland Planning Commission because it is a parking ordinance.

Fisher wants to build onto the storage building that was constructed two years ago. This would be east of the current processing and showroom building. He wants the new structure to house 60 feet of meat counters, as opposed the 36 feet he currently has. The building would be 4,068 square feet. He would also like to add a small line of produce and offer more prepared foods. The new shop would have two entrances and two checkout areas. The current building would be used for processing.

By adding the extra angled parking on the streets, Fisher would end up with about 24 more parking spaces. He would also need to add four or five new employees to his current staff of 22, he said.

Fisher hopes to begin construction by the first week of November. He expects the project to take three months. He didn’t estimate the cost of the expansion.

The council will vote on the revised ordinance on Monday, Oct. 18.

Also Monday, the council:

•Set trick-or-treating hours for the city. Trick-or-treating will be on Sunday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m.

•Heard Hosier say the road construction of East Water Street is having problems. He said samples of the already deteriorating road have been taken and he is urging LICA Construction Corp. to redo the paving.

“Anyone who has driven down there knows there is a major problem,” said Hosier.

•Heard Hosier invite Portland residents to attend the Jay County High School homecoming parade Friday at 5 p.m. The parade starts at the Jay County Fairgrounds and runs to East Jay Middle School.[[In-content Ad]]