Council OKs rate increases

By Adam Tobias of the Daily Times staff
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 1:32 PM CDT

Watertown residents can expect to see higher rates on their monthly water bills in the very near future.

The Watertown Common Council Tuesday night approved two separate ordinances increasing the rates for solid waste collection and sewer service, which both appear on city water bills.

The ordinance calls for the monthly solid waste collection charge to increase 50 cents from $6.80 to $7.30.

The rate hike, which will become effective Nov. 15, is for owners of four-family units or less, which includes duplexes and single-family residences. Industrial, commercial and institutional businesses utilizing private services are exempt.

The solid waste collection hike is the result of increases in fuel and landfill costs, as well as the street department's need to purchase a garbage truck.

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The other ordinance calls for sewer service rates to increase by 9 percent. The price hike will start on Saturday.

The new fixed rate monthly meter charges will increase from $14.96 to $16.30 for a meter that is 5/8 of an inch, from $21.15 to $23.05 for 1 inch, from $31.61 to $34.45 for 1 1/2 inches, from $44.20 to $48.17 for 2 inches, from $73.52 to $80.12 for 3 inches, from $157.33 to $171.45 for 4 inches and from $220.19 to $239.95 for 6 inches.

The volume charge per 100 cubic feet will increase from $2.41 to $2.63.

The boost in the sewer service rate is being proposed at this time because revenues in the sewer utility are not keeping up with expenditures in the wastewater treatment budget. Projections show a $364,000 deficit for 2009 without adjusting the collection rate.

In other action Tuesday night, aldermen also approved the final reading of an ordinance changing the common council's process on reconsidering a vote.

The ordinance states any council member on the prevailing side of an issue who voted in the majority may schedule the original question on the agenda of the next succeeding meeting of the council or one of its committees for a motion for reconsideration.

If the motion for reconsideration is first raised at the next council meeting or one of its committees and duly seconded, the original question will be laid over until the next succeeding, regularly scheduled council meeting.

The city clerk will also be required to deliver a copy of the prior meeting's minutes with the agenda, committee reports, ordinances, resolutions and other pertinent matters no later than the Friday prior to the scheduled council meeting.

A resolution entering EMS contracts with the villages of Lowell and Reeseville was approved by the council. The 2009 contract with Reeseville is for $11,254 and the contract with Lowell is for $5,708.

The contracts state the Watertown Fire Department will provide EMS coverage to Reeseville and Lowell by supplying one ambulance staffed with two firefighters or paramedics.

In the event the fire department is committed to previously received requests for service and is unable to respond to a call in the townships, mutual aid agencies will be contacted and dispatched to the call. These circumstances would not be considered a breach of contract.

All patients, except those who are critically ill or injured, will be taken to Watertown Regional Medical Center.

Aldermen also approved the first readings of two ordinances making more stringent requirements for the amount of post-construction storm water and associated pollutants that are allowed reach bodies of water in the state.

“These two ordinances are being submitted for your review and approval and deal with our storm water permit and our compliance schedule,” city Engineer Joe Radocay said. “They (state Department of Natural Resources) are requiring that we submit a construction site pollution control ordinance which complies with state codes.”

Alderman Tony Arnett pointed out language in one of the ordinances states storm water management facilities are required to be able to contain a 100-year storm within a 24-hour period and not release that water any faster than what would occur in a two-year storm.

“I'd just like to highlight that because that's a pretty strong standard and for those members of the public that have questions or concerns about the impact of new development within the city, they should clearly understand what kind of standard we are putting in place,” he said.

Mayor Ron Krueger added he believes some of the state agencies, the DNR being in the forefront among them, are putting standards in place that no other state in the nation has.

“There is no scientific basis for these facts and figures,” Krueger said. “It's only our own DNR, and if our state Legislature isn't running us into bankruptcy quick enough, they will finish the job.

“Their restrictions are going to have drastic effects on We Energies and Alliant Energy and people like that who produce the power for the state,” he added. “Industry that wants to locate here may find the power and energy requirements that they need and the costs that will pay for it restrictive, so we need to keep the pressure on our state Legislature.”

The first and second readings of an ordinance amending the city code that deals with election officials was approved by the council.

Under the proposed ordinance, the number of election inspectors will be determined and scheduled by the municipal clerk. No less than three inspectors will be assigned to each election unit.

Work shifts for poll workers may be split as determined by the municipal clerk and absentee ballots will be processed by the Absentee Ballot Canvasser Board.

“On Friday we met with the Government Accountability Board and they said in order to split the shifts like I do it now we had to have an ordinance in place,” city Clerk Mike Hoppenrath said.

“It is a long day,” Krueger added. “They (poll workers) need to be there well before 7 in the morning and stay until 10 or 11 at night. That would be a tough day on anyone. Thank the Lord for the people who volunteer to do that.”

Special registration deputies, special voting deputies, election day registration deputies, greeters and any other election-related personnel will be determined by the municipal clerk.

The mayor will appoint election officials with confirmation from the common council and the compensation for election officials will be determined by the council in the annual payroll resolution.

Council members approved the final reading of an ordinance creating a planned unit development for a section of Bielinski Homes' Hunter Oaks subdivision off of West Road.

The planned unit development includes three 27-unit apartment buildings on a parcel that is bordered by Belmont Drive, Horseshoe Road and Steeplechase Drive.

A resolution authorizing city officials to enter an easement agreement with We Energies was approved by the council.

We Energies has requested a 12-foot easement for a new 6-inch natural gas line that will cross the Rock River from 401 S. Water St. to 514 S. First St. The new main will replace the existing gas main under the Milwaukee Street bridge.

Construction will be done by directional bore to minimize disturbances.

Aldermen also approved a final resolution vacating a section of Emmet Street.

The portion of Emmet Street that will be vacated is east of the east right of way line of South Water Street and west of the Rock River.

The final reading of an ordinance installing stop signs on the southwest and northeast corners of Maple Crest Lane and Briar Court was approved by the council members.

Traffic on Briar Court will be required to stop for motorists on Maple Crest Lane.

A resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the WisWARN Mutual Aid and Assistance agreement was approved by the common council.

The purpose of WisWARN is to provide cooperation and coordination of activities relating to emergency and disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery for municipal water and wastewater systems.