MONROE - The Monroe Common Council on Tuesday nixed a proposed 23-percent hike in sewer rates to pay for the city's new wastewater treatment plant.
The rate hike would have result in an average increase of $27 per quarter for homeowners within the city.
Alderman Charles Koch voted against the original resolution after offering an amendment that would have split the increase over two years in an effort to ease the burden on taxpayers. The increase this year would have been an average of $17 more per quarter, with an additional $10 rate increase next year. Koch said he had received a number of correspondence from property owners concerned about a sharp increase to their utility bills. People living on fixed incomes were "having a tough time of it," he said.
The motion to amend with the split change was struck down on a 6-2 vote. When voting commenced for the original resolution, it was defeated by the same count.
Public Works Director Colin Simpson told the council if a firm decision could not be made, then his department would need guidance on how to proceed paying off the debt accrued by the building of the new treatment plant, which prompted the rate increase proposal. Simpson said it would need to be decided before the first full week in December, or a heavier rate would have to be paid out by the city because the payment schedule would have a setback.
Alderwoman Brooke Bauman voiced discontent with the measure being voted down after the Board of Public Works committee worked on it to ensure its recommendation to council.
"I don't know how it got to council if the majority at Public Works didn't agree with it in the first place," she said. "We have to figure out a way to pay for this."
Alderman Reid Stangel echoed Bauman and fellow council member Tom Miller.
"There comes a point where we have to pay for what we use," Stangel said.
Council agreed to table the measure for its next general meeting to further discuss and act on a rate increase and
to consider alternatives if aldermen come to another impasse.
The rate hike would have result in an average increase of $27 per quarter for homeowners within the city.
Alderman Charles Koch voted against the original resolution after offering an amendment that would have split the increase over two years in an effort to ease the burden on taxpayers. The increase this year would have been an average of $17 more per quarter, with an additional $10 rate increase next year. Koch said he had received a number of correspondence from property owners concerned about a sharp increase to their utility bills. People living on fixed incomes were "having a tough time of it," he said.
The motion to amend with the split change was struck down on a 6-2 vote. When voting commenced for the original resolution, it was defeated by the same count.
Public Works Director Colin Simpson told the council if a firm decision could not be made, then his department would need guidance on how to proceed paying off the debt accrued by the building of the new treatment plant, which prompted the rate increase proposal. Simpson said it would need to be decided before the first full week in December, or a heavier rate would have to be paid out by the city because the payment schedule would have a setback.
Alderwoman Brooke Bauman voiced discontent with the measure being voted down after the Board of Public Works committee worked on it to ensure its recommendation to council.
"I don't know how it got to council if the majority at Public Works didn't agree with it in the first place," she said. "We have to figure out a way to pay for this."
Alderman Reid Stangel echoed Bauman and fellow council member Tom Miller.
"There comes a point where we have to pay for what we use," Stangel said.
Council agreed to table the measure for its next general meeting to further discuss and act on a rate increase and
to consider alternatives if aldermen come to another impasse.