New London sewer rates could keep rising

By STEPH TAHTINEN

Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? A month after passing an ordinance to raise increase minimum monthly sewer rates for city residents by nearly 43 percent, the New London City Council is looking at adding an annual sewer rate increase of at least 5 percent.

At Tuesday night?s city council meeting, the council discussed amending the city?s sewer ordinance to have an annual sewer rate increase, which would allow the city to slowly save up the money it would need for future projects. This would prevent drastic increases to the rates like the one approved in January, which raised the minimum bill (up to 1,500 gallons of usage) from $16.80 monthly to $24, or an increase of 42.8 percent, with the increase then scaled according to usage.

That increase will help the City start making payments on the loan for the upcoming wastewater treatment plant project. However, there are other sewer projects that will need to be completed in the future.

?It just helps for the future,? said Councilman Dan Berner. ?Our infrastructure is not getting any younger.?

?There are sewer mains that are going to need to be replaced or re-lined,? commented Councilman Greg Thu.

The council will be considering an ordinance at its next regular city council meeting on March 5 to raise rates up to 5 percent each fiscal year. City Clerk Kasi Howard estimated that this would mean a $2 per month increase on the average bill of $40 per month.

The city council will then be able to address the increase each year with a resolution. This will allow them to either raise the rate by 5 percent or a lesser amount if it is not needed.

?If we see we don?t need that (5 percent), we can always cut it back,? said Councilman Kirk Miller.

In other business, the council:

? Discussed looking into water resource restoration sponsored projects through the State Revolving Fund (SRF). Matt Walker of French-Reneker Associates informed the council that the SRF has come out with a new program for water quality loans where for every $1 million borrowed, the participant is given $100,000 towards a water quality project. Walker noted that there are not many details out yet, but the city could be eligible for up to $300,000.

? Approved reinvesting $56,430.71 in a one-year CD at Danville Savings Bank. This CD previously had $50,000 more in the CD, but the council is keeping that amount out and loaning it to the New London Fire Department towards the purchase of a new truck. The fire department will pay back $5,000 every year on the 10-year loan.

? Approved Denise Dejaynes to have chickens at 300 S. Walnut Street. Dejaynes said her 14 chickens were her daughter?s pets and she considers them part of her garden as she uses them to help fertilize.

? Approved the New London Lions Club to place their logo on all three welcome signs.