Jeff Rowe with Umbaugh & Associates was present to discuss ordinance revisions.

WARSAW — The Warsaw Common Council spent the first hour of the three-hour long meeting Monday, Oct. 2, discussing the wastewater rate changes ordinance.

This is the second reading of the ordinance, which had its first reading and approval at the Sept. 18 meeting. Jeff Rowe of Umbaugh & Associates was present to discuss revisions to the ordinance.

Revisions are as follows:

• Section 178-154 A; in the previous draft ordinance the income level required for concession of rates was a fixed number. That has been changed to be tied to the U.S. federal poverty guidelines which change every year.
• Section 178-156; section D has been added specifying that consumers in a two or more dwelling unit where the quantity of water used is measured with a single meter – such as apartment complexes and mobile home parks -will pay a base fee based on the number of units. This charge will be fixed on the rates for a 5/8″-3/4″ meter, which is $12.
• Section 178-158; this section was reworded from being inclusive of all users to only non-metered users. The minimum charge for any non-metered users will be no less than $39.15 per month.

Council member Jeff Grose wanted to clarify, since the language of the ordinance can be confusing to the general public, that this ordinance will not increase rates for everyone. In fact, with fees now based on use, many water consumers will see their monthly bills decrease.

Grose did take issue with an aspect of the ordinance that states for a consumer to appeal their water usage they have to consume more than 25,000 gallons, an amount no average resident will reach. The issue of how to credit water usage not entering the sewage system, such as filling a pool or watering a lawn in the summer, will continue to be addressed in future meetings.

“This is a large change,” said council member Jack Wilhite. “I think taking a step at a time is the best method.”

“This is the best thing for the taxpayers that we represent,” said Grose. “I appreciate everyone’s efforts to get this to the table.”

Council meeting frequenter Chad Zartman questioned the council’s motives of using a base fee, insinuating repetitively that it was a disguised meter fee. Mayor Joe Thallemer, several members of the council and Rowe took turns stating that the base fee does not cover the cost of meter maintenance (the city does not own the meters and does not maintain them) and is used to cover the cost of collection services and billing. Simply put, it is not a meter fee.

The second reading of the ordinance was approved by the board with six members approving and Ron Shoemaker opposing. The third and final reading of the ordinance on Oct. 16 will be a public hearing.