Utility fee increase will be discussed

Monday, November 17, 2008 12:20 PM CST

A resolution calling for a monthly increase in the storm water utility will be on the agenda of the Watertown Common Council when it meets Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of the municipal building.

Under the proposed resolution, single-family home owners would see a $6.35 storm water user charge rate on their monthly water bills. The current monthly rate is $3.90.

With the rate increase, single-family home owners would have to pay $76.18 per year, which is up $29.38 from the current rate of $46.80.

The proposed monthly rate for residents in duplexes is $6.35 and the rate for those who reside in multifamily buildings is $5.81. The current rate for duplex residents is $3.90 and the rate for multifamily residents is $3.57.

The proposed monthly rates for commercial buildings is $6.62 (current rate of $4.06), manufacturing structures is $6.08 ($3.73) and institutional buildings, recreational/open space and agricultural land is $5.01 ($3.09).

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Mayor Ron Krueger said the rate increase is needed to fund the storm water project on Mary and South Twelfth streets.

“From the time the storm water utility was formed, everybody always said this is not something that just came out of the blue,” Krueger said. “Everybody always said that the purchase price for these (detention) ponds would be forthcoming and the rates would go up.”

Krueger added that the storm water utility is mandated by the state.

“This is strictly a state mandate,” he said. “The city has no control.”

By placing the storm water utility on the water bills and not on the tax rolls, all entities in the city have to pay the rate, which ends up saving residents some money, Krueger said.

“I know there are people who do not like things on the water bills, but if it wasn't put on the water bills and it was a property tax, places like Bethesda, Marquardt, the hospital and all the schools and all the churches would not be participating in this,” Krueger said.

“So instead of it being $6.35 per month, it could be approaching $9 to $10 per month,” he added.

Council members are also expected to adopt the 2009 city budget, which has spending of $15.6 million, up about $600,000 from 2008's total of $15.08 million.

Single-family home owners in the Jefferson County portion of Watertown would have a tax rate of $7 per $1,000 of assessed value, up slightly from 2008's rate of $6.80 per $1,000 of assessed value. Residents in the Dodge County section of the city would have a tax rate of $6.97 per $1,000 of assessed value. Last year's tax rate for the Dodge County portion was $6.69 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The 2009 debt levy of $3,174,288 is up 10 percent from 2008's total of $2,883,139.

To help balance the budget, four positions in the city have been either eliminated or will remain unfilled. Those positions are in the park and recreation department, engineering department, recycling department and police department.

Approximately 73 percent of the 2009 budget would go toward city employee salaries and benefits, and by eliminating the three positions and leaving the other one unfilled, the city would save about $240,000.

About $7.5 million of the 2009 budget would be used to pay city employee salaries and health insurance would make up about $1.43 million. Dental insurance would cost about $130,000.

Nearly $600,000 from the reserve fund balance would be used to pay for city operations, but officials will be looking at all aspects of the budget in the near future to see how much of that money they can put back in the reserve fund.

The finance committee has also discussed having a referendum at next April's election that would ask residents if they would be willing to surpass levy limits to help maintain city services.

Some of the larger capital purchases for next year include $435,000 for equipment for the street department and storm water utility and $112,000 for a new 911 system for the dispatch center.

The capital budget also includes $1.5 million for the annual reconstruction of streets, $95,000 for the seal coating of streets and $88,000 for sidewalks. Nearly $100,000 has been earmarked for the repair of the Second Street bridge and another $100,000 will be used for the reconstruction of city parking lots and bridge improvement

A resolution authorizing Visu-Sewer Clean and Seal Inc. to repair a 171-foot section of sewer pipe under Lafayette Street will be on the council's agenda.

An inspection has found that the pipe under Lafayette Street between the manholes on Monroe and Warren streets is collapsing and in need of repair.

The final reading of an ordinance amending the responsibilities and authorities of the city Historic Preservation Commission will be on the agenda of the council.

Under the proposed ordinance, the Historic Preservation Commission would review and make recommendations regarding requests for facade and sign grants to the Main Street Board of Directors.

The Historic Preservation Commission would also be merged with the Main Street Program's Design Committee.

The ordinance also changes the member structure of the commission. The ordinance states that the commission would be made up of eight members as opposed to the current structure of seven members and one alternate citizen member.

Aldermen are also expected to take action on the first readings of three ordinances amending the license fee, pre-licensing fee and re-inspection fee for tattoo and body piercing businesses, retail food establishments and environmental sanitation.

The first reading of an ordinance changing up some of the section numbers within the city's building code will also be on the council's agenda.