JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeffersonville’s Sanitary Sewer Board has rejected a proposal from Mayor Mike Moore to reconsider a change made to the city’s summer sewer relief program earlier this year.

As Moore’s proposal died for a lack of a second during Thursday’s sewer board meeting, it sparked one of the most heated exchanges this year between the mayor and members of the Jeffersonville City Council who were in attendance. After not getting a second vote on his proposal, the mayor vowed to violate the city ordinance he was trying to have changed. And downtown councilman Mike Smith called the mayor a “punk” for the way he acted.



WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU

Thursday’s action essentially means those wanting a break on their summer sewer bills will need to invest in an $80 to $100 water meter to keep track of how much H2O they’re getting from outdoor faucets — if the administration follows the ordinance, that is.

Sewer bills are calculated based on  water usage and people generally use more water in the summer for gardens or pools. Because that outdoor water doesn’t go into the sewer system, the city has — since 1991 — averaged residents’ winter water bills in order to give them a break in the summer months. Earlier this year, however, the sewer board and the Jeffersonville City Council made a change to that policy, requiring residents to put water meters on their outdoor spigots in order to get a discount on summer bills. Water meters keep track of how much water is being used on the outdoor faucets and that gallonage is subtracted from sewer bills.

Moore’s measure sought to go back to the old program.



TEMPERS FLARE

After introducing the policy change, Moore looked to sewer board member Dale Orem, a former mayor himself, for a second vote on the three-member board. Moore continually went back to the fact that the old relief program was created under Orem’s administration in 1991.

However, Orem wouldn’t second Moore’s motion, reasoning that sewer bonds the city is responsible for paying are reliant on revenue projected under the new program. The bonds are being used to pay for many sewer system improvements which aim to stop sewer overflows. It entered into a legal consent decree with the EPA and other federal regulators to fix those overflows because they violate the U.S. Clean Water Act.

“This water is not going into the sewer system; why should [customers] pay for it?” Moore questioned.

Orem responded that residents wouldn’t have to pay for it if they bought a meter. He admitted they do cost money out of pocket but said the savings will cover the cost of the initial investment.

City Controller Monica Harmon said the old relief program cost the city between $300,000 and $500,000 last summer.

Stretching that amount over the life of the sewer bonds would add up to millions, Councilman Dennis Julius said.

“The last 21 years we didn’t have an agreed order with the federal government,” said councilwoman Connie Sellers.

“I’m amazed by the lack of compassion,” Moore said back. “Turn your backs on the 45,000 people of Jeffersonville.”

Orem responded, “We got bonds to pay. We’re all in this same boat.”

“I’m not in that boat. We’re not doing it,” Moore said.

At that point, Smith got involved, asking Moore what he meant by the “we’re not doing it” comment.

“Watch,” Moore said.

“I’m asking you what that means,” Smith said back.

“Watch,” Moore said again.

At that point the board moved on with other business.

“I can’t stand that kind of punk,” Smith said under his breath to Julius.

Asked about it later, Smith said he was upset because he felt Moore was picking on Orem.

“I don’t think you have the right to pick on the ex-mayor,” he said to a reporter.



BREAKING THE RULES?

Moore said the sewer billing office would honor discounts for those bringing in water meters but that all others will receive the same discounts they would have under the old program.

“I’m going to fight for the citizens of Jeff. They’re not going to pay for something they’re not using. Sometimes you’ve got to take a stand.”

What gives him the right to break an ordinance?

“Common sense,” Moore said.

“It’s illegal,” Smith said in an interview after the meeting. “In 1991 when Dale [Orem] was mayor, we were allowed to have CSOs (combined sewer overflows.)”

Julius said ignoring the policy could result in a lawsuit against the city.



COUNCIL STANCE

Even if Moore had gotten the change passed by the sewer board, it’s unclear whether he would have had enough support from the Jeffersonville City Council.

During a meeting earlier this week, Council President Ed Zastawny read a statement aloud in response to a press release issued in May from Moore on the program.

Zastawny said the sewer board and city council did not entirely abolish the summer program but only changed the way it was implemented.

“Rather than arbitrarily reducing the sewer bills for every household during the summer months, regardless of whether or not the household used water for their lawns, gardens or swimming pools, the new policy requires verification that the household used water that did not enter the city’s sanitary sewer system,” Zastawny said.

“The mayor states that the sewer board and city council should use ‘common sense’ regarding summer relief. In considering the changed method in calculating summer relief, the sewer board and city council did in fact use common sense. It is not common sense to arbitrarily reduce sewer rates for every household during the summer months if a household is not watering their yard, garden or filling swimming pools.”

Further, Zastawny’s statement said the change to the relief program was factored in when Jeffersonville voted to increase its sewer rates in order to meet the demands of the legal consent decree,

“If the summer relief program is re-established to provide reduced sewer rates for every household for summer relief, then the city may have to increase sewer rates again to ensure that there is sufficient revenue to pay for the outstanding bonds and for future mandated projects,” he said. “The sewer board and the city council agree that households should not have to pay sewer fees for water that does not enter the city’s sewer system. However, the city council believes that the fiscally responsible procedure is that summer relief is granted to a household that provides proper verification of water usage that does not enter the city’s sewer system, such as verifying such usage with a water meter.”

Though it was Zastawny that issued the statement, the entire council voted in favor of including it in the meeting’s minutes. Asked about it after the meeting, Zastawny said the issue would not be taken back up by the council.