Posted: 7/3/07
Water and sewer rates to increase
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Water and sewer rates will be going up in Caledonia. The Caledonia City Council voted 4-1 to increase the water base rate by five percent and the water usage rate by 10 percent. In a second motion, the council voted 4-1 to increase the sewer base rate by five percent and the sewer user rate by 20 percent. The increases in the base rates would go into effect August 1, while the user rate increases would be November 1.
Mayor Mike Morey and councilmen Paul Fisch, Bob Standish and Randi Vick supported both motions, while Councilman Gary Klug voted against both.
The council action was taken following a presentation by city accountant Stephanie Mann. According to Mann, the cityís water and sewer rates have not kept pace with the rate of inflation during the past decade. To offset this budget shortfall, the city has borrowed approximately $500,000 from other departments - primarily the electric department.
In 2006, the cityís water department operated $21,446.61 in the red, while the sewer department lost nearly five times that amount - $107,264.70.
"I have a problem raising rates right now," Klug said. "Gas prices are up, which seems to affect everything. Older people living on fixed incomes are having a tough enough time as it is."
"I really didnít want to make these recommendations either," Mann said. "But the city has shown a loss in the sewer department the past six years. And according to the state, we cannot continue doing this. Weíve been taking money from other departments (to fund the water and sewer departments) and if we would have something major happen, it would really hurt."
To help the council understand what affect the proposed increases would have on local users, Mann presented the following figures:
ïFor a single person using just under 2,500 cubic feet of water per year, the increase per month would be $1.65.
ïFor a family of two, using 5,300 cubic feet of water per year, the increase would be $2.93 per month.
ïFor a family of four, using 11,300 cubic feet of water per year, the increase would be $5.54 per month.
The motion to approve the proposed water rate increases was made by Fisch, seconded by Vick.
The motion to approve the proposed sewer rate increases was made by Morey, seconded by Standish.
In other council action:
Salt shed bid approved
The council approved the bid of $25,995 from Cover-All Inc. of Stratford, Wis. for a fabric-covered hoop building that will serve as the cityís salt/sand shed. The cityís current shed is beyond repair and the council budgeted $50,000 for a new shed.
Cover-Allís bid is just for the hoop frame and fabric cover. Once the city receives the specs from Cover-All, specifications for the foundation and concrete knee walls, which the hoop building will be connected to, will be drawn up. The city will then solicit bids for the concrete and asphalt work.
The 42 by 48 foot building will be located north of the street department shop.
If all goes as planned, the new salt/sand shed should be completed by early fall, according to City Coordinator Mike Gerardy.
Streetlights are coming
The city received good news from Mn/DOT last week. According to Gerardy, the used streetlight poles the city is getting from La Crescent are break away standards, and can be used to brighten things up along Highway 44 in Caledonia.
The city felt there was a need for more streetlights along Highway 44. But when city staff met with Mn/DOT officials, the state did not see a need for more lights.
"We met with Mn/DOT and offered to do all the wiring if they would supply the poles," Gerardy explained. "That was a year ago. They didnít feel there was a need, but told us if we could come up with the lights and install them ourselves, they would give us permission to do so.
"We checked with the city of Preston to see if we could get their old lights during the Highway 52 project," Gerardy continued. "But that didnít work out. So when La Crescent started its project, we contacted the contractor about those lights, and they gave them to us."
Because the lightpoles from La Crescent were fairly old, there was some concern they were made before break away poles had become mandatory. But an inspection by a Mn/DOT official indicated they were break away standards and can be used in Caledonia.
The standards are made of stainless steel, so they wonít have to be sanded and repainted. The city was able to obtain 10 poles, which will be installed from the entrance to Dollar General south through the highway business district.
CPR instructor pay
Caledonia Area Ambulance Service Director Mike Tornstrom brought a request to set an hourly wage for persons who serve as CPR instructors and assistant instructors.
After explaining some of the issues involved in leading CPR training sessions, Tornstrom recommended the lead instructor receive $20 per hour and the assistant $15 per hour. His request was unanimously approved.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com