Council hears first reading of ordinance to increase sewer rates
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The Hillsboro City Council has had the first reading of an ordinance that, if passed, will increase sewer rates 15 percent over three years.
During council's regular meeting Monday, utilities committee members Dave Shoemaker, chairperson, and Bonnie Parr told council that they were at an impasse on making a recommendation on that matter.
The 15-percent increase to sewer rates over a three-year period was proposed during the June council meeting, and was studied by the utilities committee during a June 22 meeting. Initial rate increases were recommended in 2008 by the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) to help cover a nearly $20 million upgrade mandated by the EPA to the city's wastewater treatment plant. However, the city was able to secure grant funding for more than half the project, so the city froze the rate increases in 2008. Had the city not frozen rates, they would have increased 58.71 percent.
During Monday's meeting, Shoemaker reported that he and Parr agreed with RCAP that the city should increase rates 5 percent each year from 2011-2013 in order to have enough funds for the capital improvements, and to begin making payments on the plant construction, which begins in 2013. However, Shoemaker said he and Parr disagreed on how council should implement the increase.
Parr was in favor of waiving the three-reading rule during the July meeting, so that the rate increase would be implemented 30 days after publication of the ordinance.
Shoemaker said that the city had waited this long to make the increases, he felt that they should give the ordinance its three readings that way Hillsboro residents could have the opportunity to address council on the matter. No residents were in attendance during the June 22 utilities committee meeting, and no one addressed the matter during Monday's meeting.
Two pieces of legislation were prepared for the meeting. The legislation was identical except for the time frame in which the rates would go into effect, and council members were left to decide which one they wanted to pass.
Council member Bill Alexander asked Parr and Shoemaker to give pros and cons of each situation.
The committee noted that one drawback of giving the three readings meant that council would have to vote to delay a scheduled September water increase until November when the sewer rate increase would take effect. Shoemaker said that water rates impact sewer rates, so it does not work to have the increases take effect in different months.
During the discussion, Council President Lee Koogler interjected, after conferring with Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery, and said that council could address the ordinances by considering the waiving of the three-reading rule. If it passed, they would proceed with the ordinance written as emergency legislation, and if it did not pass, the ordinance would then have its first reading.
Parr made a motion that council waive the three-reading rule. After a long pause, council member Mary Brown Turner seconded the motion. During the roll call vote, Parr voted to waive the three reading, while the six other members of council - including Turner - voted against it. The legislation then stood as having its first reading. If council passes the legislation on its third reading in September, the rate increases will go into effect in November.
The Hillsboro City Council has had the first reading of an ordinance that, if passed, will increase sewer rates 15 percent over three years.
During council's regular meeting Monday, utilities committee members Dave Shoemaker, chairperson, and Bonnie Parr told council that they were at an impasse on making a recommendation on that matter.
The 15-percent increase to sewer rates over a three-year period was proposed during the June council meeting and was studied by the utilities committee during a June 22 meeting. Initial rate increases were recommended in 2008 by the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) to help cover a nearly $20 million upgrade mandated by the EPA to the city's wastewater treatment plant. However, the city was able to secure grant funding for more than half the project, so the city froze the rate increases in 2008. Had the city not frozen rates, they would have increased 58.71 percent.
During Monday's meeting, Shoemaker reported that he and Parr agreed with RCAP that the city should increase rates 5 percent each year from 2011-2013 in order to have enough funds for the capital improvements, and to begin making payments on the plant construction, which begins in 2013. However, Shoemaker said he and Parr disagreed on how council should implement the increase.
Parr was in favor of waiving the three-reading rule during the July meeting, so that the rate increase would be implemented 30 days after publication of the ordinance.
Shoemaker said that the city had waited this long to make the increases, he felt that they should give the ordinance its three readings; that way Hillsboro residents could have the opportunity to address council on the matter. No residents were in attendance during the June 22 utilities committee meeting, and no one addressed the matter during Monday's meeting.
Two pieces of legislation were prepared for the meeting. The legislation was identical except for the time frame in which the rates would go into effect, and council members were left to decide which one they wanted to pass.
Council member Bill Alexander asked Parr and Shoemaker to give pros and cons of each situation.
The committee noted that one drawback of giving the three readings meant that council would have to vote to delay a scheduled September water increase until November when the sewer rate increase would take effect. Shoemaker said that water rates impact sewer rates, so it does not work to have the increases take effect in different months.
During the discussion, Council President Lee Koogler interjected, after conferring with Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery, and said that council could address the ordinances by considering the waiving of the three-reading rule. If it passed, they would proceed with the ordinance written as emergency legislation, and if it did not pass, the ordinance would then have its first reading.
Parr made a motion that council waive the three-reading rule. After a long pause, council member Mary Brown Turner seconded the motion. During the roll call vote, Parr voted to waive the three reading, while the six other members of council - including Turner - voted against it. The legislation then stood as having its first reading. If council passes the legislation on its third reading in September, the rate increases will go into effect in November.