The Culver Town Council members approved the storm water rate study compiled by Jeff Rowe from Baker Tilly. The study was approved 4-1 with Councilman Bill Cleavenger opposed to the motion.
Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist reminded the town council members Tuesday night that he forwarded a change to Rowe to incorporate into the study which could lessen the increase in the fee. The change included the omission of a storm water project at the Culver Town Park in the amount of $75,000 which would be replaced with a line item for $40,000 for an existing service extension and a line item for $10,000 for system maintenance.
With that change, Rowe suggested an increase of $3.50. That is about a $1.00 less than the initial proposed rate increase. The current rate is $2.00 which is one of the lowest rates in the state.
The rate increase would occur over three phases and the time frame of those phases will be discussed in a future meeting.
Councilman Cleavenger thought more could be done to reduce costs, but Leist explained that the town already subsidizes maintenance needs with other utility funds so raising the rates would be the best option at this time.
With the majority approval of the rate study, an ordinance reflecting a rate increase is expected to be presented at a town council meeting in January with a public hearing scheduled to take comments on the matter.
