Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 23, 1995 TAG: 9511240013
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The town's Finance and Utilities Committee has come up with preliminary recommendations, but members stressed that these were only a starting point for discussions.
Current rates are a minimum of $17.84 a month for up to 3,000 gallons of wastewater, plus $2.56 for every 1,000 gallons above that quantity.
That is nowhere near enough to make the town's sewer fund self-supporting, especially with so many aging sewer lines in need of fixing. "It's obvious that our rate structure is going to have to be increased somewhat," committee Chairman John Johnston told Pulaski Town Council Tuesday night.
The proposed new rates would be similar to the town's water rate structure. Some customers using 2,000 gallons or less a month would actually see a slight rate decline; those using more water would see increases.
During plans for the 1994-95 budget last spring, the town administration recommended a 10 percent sewer rate increase. Council did not approve that, but found existing rates insufficient to cover the cost of service and appropriated $50,000 from the general fund to keep the sewer fund from going broke.
The governing body at that time asked the administrative staff to study the rates. That study is now complete.
Although fixing or replacing sewer line is expensive, it is more expensive not to fix it because extraneous water seeps into leaky lines and ends up being piped 17 miles to the Peppers Ferry Sewage Treatment Plant where it is treated along with sewage. That treatment of excess water is costly.
In other business Tuesday night, council approved the town's participation in a state Department of Corrections program which would provide inmate labor. Town Manager Tom Combiths said the Community Work Project Program seeks to place supervised groups of nonviolent offenders in work projects across the state, and would be a cost-effective way for Pulaski to carry out some town projects.
"I think it's a good use of inmate labor," Police Chief Herb Cooley said.
Council also approved changes in the town's drainage policy which included allowing the town manager and public works director to fix drainage problems covering less than a block without council approval.
Previously, council had to approve each project less than a block long.
Pulaski's proposed sewer rate structure would be $2.82 per month for every 1,000 gallons of water used, plus a fixed charge based on meter size as follows:
Meter size In-town Out-of-town
5/8" $10.41 $20.81
1" $14.99 $29.99
1 1/2" $22.64 $45.27
2" $31.81 $63.62
3" $56.27 $112.54
4" $83.79 $167.57
6" $160.22 $320.45
8" $251.95 $503.89
by CNB