MONROE - Snowbirds hitting the roads for warmer weather this winter should calculate the costs to disconnect from city services while they're gone.
The Board of Public Works voted unanimously Monday, Dec. 2, to continue charging for fixed costs to provide the services of water, sewer, trash, storm sewer and public fire protection - about $84 per quarter.
According to City Administrator Phil Rath, these are the costs to the city for making the services readily available to property owners.
The water service charge is approved by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, which requires customers to be billed for the service for the period of disconnection during a 12-month period. In other words, customers will be paying for their water service, whether they are at home to use it or not, which is about $48 per quarter.
The board determined the other city services would also be charged at base rates during customers' absent periods.
Water Department Supervisor Mike Kennison noted that some people may wish to simply turn off the water valve coming into the house to prevent volume charges and to save reconnection charges, but they would need to heat the residence to prevent water pipes from freezing and breaking.
If the customer still wants the water disconnected or the meter removed, there will be a charge to reconnect, $45 to turn the city water back on or $50 to reinstall the meter, during regular business hours. Disconnecting the meter would require customers to back drain pipes, often for the cost of hiring a plumber.
More information about the water department rates, services and tarriffs, or other city services, is available on the city's website, www.cityofmonroe.org.
The Board of Public Works voted unanimously Monday, Dec. 2, to continue charging for fixed costs to provide the services of water, sewer, trash, storm sewer and public fire protection - about $84 per quarter.
According to City Administrator Phil Rath, these are the costs to the city for making the services readily available to property owners.
The water service charge is approved by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, which requires customers to be billed for the service for the period of disconnection during a 12-month period. In other words, customers will be paying for their water service, whether they are at home to use it or not, which is about $48 per quarter.
The board determined the other city services would also be charged at base rates during customers' absent periods.
Water Department Supervisor Mike Kennison noted that some people may wish to simply turn off the water valve coming into the house to prevent volume charges and to save reconnection charges, but they would need to heat the residence to prevent water pipes from freezing and breaking.
If the customer still wants the water disconnected or the meter removed, there will be a charge to reconnect, $45 to turn the city water back on or $50 to reinstall the meter, during regular business hours. Disconnecting the meter would require customers to back drain pipes, often for the cost of hiring a plumber.
More information about the water department rates, services and tarriffs, or other city services, is available on the city's website, www.cityofmonroe.org.