1986-08-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Meeting Minutes August 26, 1986 r Counc i 1 Bus i ness, cont i nued Benke stated his perception has been to repay what we can repay and invest the balance in the city's water system to forestall future rate increases, infrastructure replacement, and a revolv- ing fund of some kind. Benke further stated there is a multi- plicity of things we need to take care of before we come up with any II s u rp 1 us II to depos it for in teres t. t 1 Poston stated that, according to the timetable, there will be a public hearing on September 9, 1986, and he would again be present to answer any questions. Benke asked if a rate study could be completed by September 9th, feeling it should be done before the city goes to a new system starting November 1, 1986; Egan stated the timetable indicates the council would adopt the philosophy on September 9th, staff would return to council for the rate study approval in October, 1986, and the rates would go into effect on November 1, 1986, but would not be billed until late January, 1987; Poston added that council can act on philosophy and theory without immediately putting a new rate into effect, stating the fate study would be done to set the rates and that action could be done after the resolution is adopted. Marjorie Otto, attorney representing Morris Fillister, owner of the Brighton Village Apartments, stated she believes council has gone through the process for principle; indicated Fillister, believing the old sewage rate structure was bad policy, tried to have council change the flat rate into a useage-based rate. Otto stated the proposal does not address their concerns and they are not satisfied with the process as they had been assured they would have input into the process, which otto stated they did not. Otto then stated she and Fillister did not believe neither the flat component nor the user-classifications are wise or fair ideas. Otto stated Fillister has been paying bills for two years under protest and asked fOf a refund for overpayment. Otto requested that all customers be advised of any further rate changes, modifications, or user-reclassifications, giving them the opportunity for input; feels that changes every few years will be the death of the system. Brandt stated that Otto objected to a flat rate system and a user-classification system; Otto stated she would like to see a total consumption rate, without a flat rate for ingress/egress; Brandt commented that, even though a resident may never use the water/sewer system, the system would need to be in place in order for a home to have any marketability and pointed out there is a cost in maintaining the system. Otto stated that the full cost should be assessed to those using the service; believes that when an individual is purchasing a commodity the philosophically correct way to pay for that service is through useage. Page Five