Jefferson Village sewer rates to increase 3.5 percent

By ELLEN KOLMAN - Staff Writer - ekolman@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

February 18, 2009 12:48 am

— JEFFERSON — Council unanimously voted to increase sewer rates by 3.5 percent during the regular Jefferson Village Council meeting Tuesday evening.
Village Administrator Terry Finger recommended the increase during the wastewater treatment portion of the meeting.
During the public portion of the meeting, Jefferson resident Eleanor Pengel questioned Finger about the rate increase.
“I think you need to question how and why there needs to be an increase in sewer rates. This is too much,” she said.
Finger and Councilman Bruce Thompson cited the increase is needed because of capital improvements.
“We must increase in increments, to keep up with maintenance costs so we are not playing catch-up,” Finger said. “The 3.5 percent is according to the plan from the 2007 rate study.”
Jefferson Village owns and operates its own wastewater treatment plant, which is located on North Elm Street.
The minimum monthly charge for village households is $7.26, and the average increase will translate to about 40 cents a month.
“We will be taxing the big users (more),” Finger said.
Finger compared Jefferson’s minimum rate to those of other municipalities: Orwell $70; Middlefield $35; Kingsville $18 and Geneva $15.02.
“For this area, our rates are ridiculously low,” Thompson said.