Monroe City Council Decides to Amend Rather than Rescind Sewer Rate Ordinance
By: Nina Criscuolo
Updated: January 22, 2013
Despite expectations the Monroe City Council would rescind the recently approved sewer rate hikes Tuesday evening, the council took a different approach to the issue.
After the majority of the city council supported an ordinance to rescind the sewer rate hikes January 8th. Many believed the same would happen Tuesday with the final reading of the ordinance. The sewer rate hikes were approved by the previous city council members, after a consultant suggested the move be made. But the new city council felt uncomfortable with wording in the ordinance concerning annual automatic increases, so District One Councilman Ray Armstrong brought forth an ordinance that would rescind the entire deal.
In an effort to keep the sewer rate hike in place, but address those concerns, Councilwoman Gretchen Ezernack introduced an amendment to the original ordinance Tuesday evening, hoping the council could find some common ground.
Ezernack says the hike will move the rate to 3.55 and will help the sewer department emerge from a deficit of more than five-million dollars over the coming years. Then later down the road, it will provide money for improvement projects within the department.
The council will make it's final decision on the amendment at it's meeting on February 12th.
After the majority of the city council supported an ordinance to rescind the sewer rate hikes January 8th. Many believed the same would happen Tuesday with the final reading of the ordinance. The sewer rate hikes were approved by the previous city council members, after a consultant suggested the move be made. But the new city council felt uncomfortable with wording in the ordinance concerning annual automatic increases, so District One Councilman Ray Armstrong brought forth an ordinance that would rescind the entire deal.
In an effort to keep the sewer rate hike in place, but address those concerns, Councilwoman Gretchen Ezernack introduced an amendment to the original ordinance Tuesday evening, hoping the council could find some common ground.
Ezernack says the hike will move the rate to 3.55 and will help the sewer department emerge from a deficit of more than five-million dollars over the coming years. Then later down the road, it will provide money for improvement projects within the department.
The council will make it's final decision on the amendment at it's meeting on February 12th.
