By DANIEL SUDDEATH
The New Albany Sewer Board will discuss proposed rate increases during a special meeting at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Attorney Greg Fifer, who took over legal representation for the board from Lee Buchanan in January, stated in an e-mail Tuesday the agenda will center around Crowe Horwath’s report released last week.
New Albany should raise sewer rates by 70 percent immediately to deal with revenue shortfalls, the report stated.
The sewer board didn’t act on the study’s suggestions, but Fifer suggested a decision could be reached Thursday.
“The board may adopt a resolution recommending a course of action to the city council during the meeting,” he said.
Regardless of the vote, the City Council still has the final say on setting sewer rates. During a Monday meeting, Councilwoman Diane McCartin-Benedetti said the board should vote on the rate increase before the council considers the issue.
Council President John Gonder also stated the council should wait for the board to present its opinion before moving forward. Thursday’s meeting will be held in the third-floor Assembly Room in the City-County Building.
Discount time for filling pools shortened
Utility bill adjustments for summer watering will be limited to four months this year, as the New Albany sewer board reduced the grace period to increase revenue.
Adjustments had been available for six months of the year, from May to October. Floyd County residents that fill swimming pools each summer are the primary beneficiaries of the policy.
The customers receive a bill based on the average amount of their winter usage. That formula will still be used when the city gives a rebate, but now the adjustments will be for the June, July, August and September bills.
The billing period for those dues runs between approximately May 20 and August 20.
May is typically the busiest month for reductions with many customers filling pools said Kelly Welsh, director of New Albany’s utility billing department.
Officials including Mayor Doug England felt the adjustment period “was too many months and we lost some revenue,” Welsh said.
Gary Brinkworth, vice chairman of the sewer board, said four months will still provide relief to customers while allowing the utility to collect a fair share of its expenses created by extra water usage.
“You think of all the people in Floyd County that have pools that we service,” Brinkworth said.
More utility liens posted
Welsh said about $150,000 in additional liens have been filed since $613,726 in notices were filed by the utility office in September.
Penalties were increased after customers failed to respond to the pre-lien requests, Welsh said.
“They’re the same people but with more amounts,” she said.
If the past due bills are not paid, a lien will be filed by the city on the property. The city will then collect on the lien when the land owner pays property taxes to the county, or when the property is sold.
New Albany grocery co-op progressing
Andy Terrell, one of the organizers of the movement to start a grocery co-op in New Albany, is pleased with the advancements the effort has made.
Last week, a steering committee for the co-op held its first meeting. The committee heard from a guest speaker, Andy Mahler of the Lost River co-op in Paoli.
Terrell said the group was able to set goals of what it wants the co-op to become. The focus will be a full-service grocery bolstered by fresh, local produce and meats.
“This helps the local economy, keeps dollars in New Albany and has the benefit of being better food for people and better for the environment,” Terrell said.
There are “lots of local farmers who have terrific product and a project like this can help them expand their operations as well.”
