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Last updated on Thursday, August 30, 2012
(BEDFORD) - Mayor Shawna Girgis presented proposed increases to the city’s current water and sewer rates plus the creation of a new storm water fee to members of the city council Tuesday night during a special session at City Hall.
Bob Bridge of the Times-Mail reports that Mayor Girgis says Bedford's rates are among the lowest in the state and must be raised to address essential infrastructure issues.
Girgis told the council that the increase would not be popular, but was necessary. Officials at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management issued the city a violation letter in February.
Girgis says IDEM expects a plan to rectify the problem by March. And the first step to do that is increase rates.
She estimates the combined hike for a family of four at approximately $20 per month. The current monthly water rate (5,000 gallons) of $22.59 would increase to $29.83 and the sewer rate would rise from $32.69 to $42.81. The stormwater fee would be $5.
A public hearing will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce. The ordinance will be introduced when the council convenes Oct. 9.
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