ON MONDAY THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED THE FIRST READING OF A PROPOSED INCREASE IN SEWER RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USERS.
THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE OVER SEVEN YEARS WILL PAY FOR A $580 MILLION DOLLAR REMODEL OF THE CITY’S HALF CENTURY OLD WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
WILL MORTON OF HAZEN AND SAWYER, THE PROJECT CONSULTANT, EXPLAINED WHAT THE INCREASE WOULD BE FOR A TYPICAL SIOUX CITY FAMILY:
SEWER4 OC…….END OF THIS PERIOD. :10
MORTON SAYS OUR LARGEST INDUSTRIAL USERS WOULD SEE A BIG INCREASE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IN WHAT THEY WILL BE CHARGED:
SEWER5 OC……. NINE AND A HALF MILLION. :18
SEABOARD TRIUMPH FOODS IS OUR LARGEST LOCAL INDUSTRIAL USER.
COUNCILWOMAN JULIE SCHOENHERR EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE INCREASE TO UTIL;ITIES DIRECTOR TOM PINGEL;
SEWER6 OC……HAVE TO DO. :18
THREE READINGS MUST PASS FOR THE RATES TO TAKE EFFECT, BEGINNING JULY 1ST.
THE CITY WILL APPLY FOR A 30-YEAR LOAN FROM THE STATE TO PAY FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE WASTEWATER PLANT.
THE RATE INCREASE WILL FUND THE LOAN REPAYMENT.
