Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
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RUSS approves nearly doubling Mt. Union monthly sewer fees
BY BROOKS TAYLOR
Mt. Pleasant News
Residents of Mt. Union are not going to be happy next month when they open their sewer bills from the Regional Utility Services System (RUSS).
That may be putting it mildly as the RUSS Board of Directors voted Wednesday in their monthly meeting to nearly double monthly sewer bills in the community to $150. Currently, Mt. Union customers are charged $75.85 per month. The vote to ...
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Sep. 30, 2018 9:45 pm
BY BROOKS TAYLOR
Mt. Pleasant News
Residents of Mt. Union are not going to be happy next month when they open their sewer bills from the Regional Utility Services System (RUSS).
That may be putting it mildly as the RUSS Board of Directors voted Wednesday in their monthly meeting to nearly double monthly sewer bills in the community to $150. Currently, Mt. Union customers are charged $75.85 per month. The vote to raise the fee was unanimous with Greg Moeller, Henry County supervisor and RUSS board member, abstaining due to the matter being within Henry County.
Bruce Hudson, RUSS executive director, said the large increase is needed because about 15-20 residents have not paid their monthly bills since the system went online in 2010.
?We (RUSS) have taken on the obligation of being the bond holder,? Hudson told the board. ?The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture who is the lender) puts in provisions and requirements of what we have to do as a bond holder. What they are saying is that if we aren?t getting the revenue, we have to raise rates.?
The new rates will be reflected in the January bills, which are sent at the beginning of the month and payment is due by Jan. 15. Residents make a direct payment to RUSS for the sewer service.
?After five years of people not paying on the system, it (revenue) does not look good,? Hudson noted.
He and the board also said that this might not be the last increase in Mt. Union. ?This is where we are at,? Hudson informed his board. ?If the revenues continue to not come in, it is the obligation of RUSS to raise rates again. This is where we are going, this has to be done?If everybody starts paying and we can reduce rates, we will address that.?
Currently, Mt. Union residents are $42,000 in arrears on sewer bill payments, but Hudson said that does not include other fees incurred by RUSS in the Mt. Union dilemma. He listed legal fees (in court cases over the non-payment of bills) and other expenses amount to around $30,000.
Letters informing Mt. Union residents of the increase will be mailed this week, Hudson said. RUSS board member Lee Dimmitt, a Jefferson County supervisor, asked if it would be prudent or appropriate to state in the letter that this might not be the last increase.
?It all depends on what (revenue) comes in,? Hudson answered.