NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED INCREASE IN SEWER RATES
AND CHARGES FOR THE TOWN OF CHURUBUSCO, INDIANA
Property owners and other interested parties in the Town of Churubusco, Indiana, and other interested parties served by its sewage works are hereby notified that Ordinance No. 2014-03, increasing the rates and charges for services to be rendered by the sewage works, was introduced at a meeting of the Town Council held on February 19, 2014. A public hearing of the Town Council will be held at 6:00 p.m., local time, on March 5, 2014 at the Town Hall, 215 Home Avenue, Churubusco, Indiana, on the matter of the rates and charges. Immediately following the public hearing the Town Council will convene and may consider the adoption of said ordinance.
Ordinance No. 2014-03 provides for an increase in rates and charges as set forth in Exhibit “A”.
At such public hearing and prior to final adoption of Ordinance No. 2014-03, all interested parties may appear and be heard. The complete text of proposed Ordinance No. 2014-03 is on file and available for examination and copying at the office of the Town’s Clerk-Treasurer at 530 S. Main Street, Churubusco, Indiana, during regular business hours, and will be available at the public hearing.
Dated this 24 day of February, 2014.
ORDINANCE NO. 2014-03
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE SEWER RATES AND
CHARGES FOR THE TOWN OF CHURUBUSCO, INDIANA
WHEREAS, the Town of Churubusco, Indiana (the “Town”), has heretofore constructed and has in operation sewage works pursuant to IC 36-9-23 et seq. for the purpose of collecting and disposing in a sanitary manner of sewage of the residents and other non resident users of the sewer utility of the Town; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council of the Town (the “Council”) has previously by ordinance, and amendments thereto, established the existing schedule of user rates and charges for sewer service and across the board rate increase; and
WHEREAS, the Town has employed Financial Solutions Group, Inc., (the “Financial Advisor”) to prepare a rate report reviewing the sufficiency of such existing rates and charges; and
WHEREAS, the Financial Advisor has prepared and submitted a rate report dated September 13, 2013, (the “Rate Report”) which concludes that existing rates and charges are insufficient to pay all legal and other necessary expenses incident to the operation of the utility, including maintenance costs, operating charges, upkeep, repairs, depreciation, including increases in such costs, and interest charges on bonds or other obligations; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ind. Code 36-9-23-26, this Council may change or adjust its existing schedule of fees by Ordinance after providing notice and conducting a public hearing; and
WHEREAS, Ind. Code 36-9-23-25, authorizes this Council to adopt by ordinance a just and equitable schedule of fees for sewer service rendered by the Town’s sewage works; and
WHEREAS, Ind. Code 36-9-23-25 authorizes this Council to exercise reasonable discretion in adopting different schedules of fees, or making classifications in schedules of fees, based upon variations in the costs, including capital expenditures, of furnishing services to various classes of users or to various locations, or the number of users in various locations; and
WHEREAS, because of and based upon such cost increases, it is just, equitable, and reasonable to amend the existing schedules of fees herein for users of the sewer system; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk-Treasurer of the Town has given notice of the public hearing on proposed rates as provided for in the pertinent provisions of the Indiana Code; and
WHEREAS, the public hearing was held before this Council on March 5, 2014, at 6:00 p.m., at which time testimony from interested persons was received, after introduction of this Ordinance and as provided for in the Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CHURUBUSCO, INDIANA:
Section 1. The Council hereby finds and determines that, based upon the Rate Report, the existing rates and charges are insufficient to pay all the legal and other necessary expenses incident to the operation of the utility, including maintenance costs, operating charges, upkeep, repairs, depreciation, including increases in such costs, and interest charges on bonds or other obligations.
Section 2. The Council finds and determines that the proposed rates and charges as set forth in the Rate Report are just and equitable and therefore should be adopted.
Section 3. The pertinent Town of Churubusco Ordinance which established the sewer rates and charges; including all amendments thereto is hereby amended as follows:
“Section 3. Water usage schedule. The water usage schedule, on which the amount of the sewage rates and charges shall be determined, shall be as follows:
Metered Rates per Month Present
Monthly Charge Proposed Monthly Charge
Per 1,000 Gallons $2.85 $3.56
Operation & Maintenance $3.70 $4.63
Local Capital Charge $1.83 $2.29
Long-Term Depreciation Charge $0.69 $0.86
TOTAL $6.22 $7.78
Billing Charge $2.65 $3.31
Unmetered $36.91 $46.14
Minimum Charge per Month
5/8 – 3/4 inch meter $26.82 $33.53
1 inch meter $43.01 $53.76
1-1/2 inch meter $83.12 $103.90
2 inch meter $131.45 $164.31
3 inch meter $244.30 $305.38
4 inch meter $405.49 $506.86
6 inch meter $808.07 $1,010.09
Typical Bills
Gallons – 1,000 $8.86 $11.08
Gallons – 2,000 $15.07 $18.84
Gallons – 3,000 $21.28 $26.60
Gallons – 4,000 $27.49 $34.36
Gallons – 5,000 $33.70 $42.13
Gallons – 6,000 $39.91 $49.89
Gallons – 7,000 $46.11 $57.64
Gallons – 8,000 $52.52 $65.65
Gallons – 9,000 $58.53 $73.16
Gallons – 10,000 $64.74 $80.93
“Section 4. Blue Lake Conservancy District Treatment Rate: The water usage schedule, on which the amount of the sewage rates and charges shall be determined, shall be as follows:
Metered Rates Per Month Proposed Monthly Charge
Per 1,000 Gallons $3.56
Adopted this day of , 2014. TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF
CHURUBUSCO, INDIANA
__________________________________________
Frank Kessler, President
__________________________________________
Alan Malcolm, Council Member
__________________________________________
Mark Pepple, Council Member
ATTEST:
________________________________________
Madalyn Sade-Bartl, Clerk-Treasurer
