Nelsonville City Council members discussed sewer rate increases at last night's meeting.
Most of the discussion centered on the first reading of an ordinance that would increase sewer rates by 16.6 percent to all Nelsonville residents in order to adequately fund the Sewer Department's debt to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The east end of the city used to smell like a sewer, Vice President Greg Smith said, due to a broken sewer part. The city had to borrow money from the EPA to pay for repairs, and to pay it back the city was forced to raise sewer rates. Smith said the actual figure was below the previous estimated increase.
Councilman Bill Wend said the increase is necessary.
If we don't pay this back (to the EPA)
that's the first step toward a physical emergency Wend said.
Not all council members agreed the sewer increase was a good thing. Councilman John Reynolds said it was too much of an increase.
I can't in good conscience support (the increase) Reynolds said.
The ordinance did pass its first reading and will be discussed further at the next council meeting, Oct. 27.
In other council news, an ordinance declared real and present emergency
allowing City Manager Fred Holmes to enter into a contract with the lowest quote for construction of curbs on Washington Street between Adams and U.S. Route 33.
Smith said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to repair the curbs for about $30,000.
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