DUBOIS – City Manager John “Herm” Suplizio gave his proposed sewer rate increases and late fee change for residential and industrial users to DuBois City Council at its regular meeting Monday night.
The base tiers would increase from $9 to $11, if approved at a future meeting. The industrial use tiers would also increase by an equal percentage.
Suplizio urged council to either raise the late fee to 10 percent, or to drop it entirely. Under the current rate, DuBois City only charges $0.30 for a late fee on $30.
“Right now, there is no reason to pay your bill on time,” he said.
According to Suplizio, a sewer rate increase has become necessary because of new expenses and maintenance costs.
He said chemicals, which are required for the mandated copper treatment, cost $305,000 annually. He also mentioned the replacement costs for the vacuum truck.
DuBois City’s sewer camera is also among a list of replacement items, in addition to the repair of 1,000 feet of pipe in an effort to reduce inflow and infiltration.
Suplizio said costs will add up for digging up the pipe, laying the new pipe and repaving the roadway. He added that the pipe and man hours aren’t going to be cheap.
If council approves the rate increase in August, it will not go into effect until the October bill.
Sandy Township customers will not be subject to the increase due to the recent contract between DuBois City and the township.
Council voted to approve Sandy Township’s request for sewage planning for 43 new dwellings.
Council also voted to rescind the handicapped parking space that it had previously approved for the 200 block of Quarry Avenue.
At the time of original request, council had concerns not only about the handicapped parking, but also with allowing any on this particular section of Quarry Avenue.
Since then, council has looked for a potential location for the handicapped parking space. Council, however, couldn’t find a location that it felt would work.
Council stressed that their decision to rescind the previously approved handicapped parking space was due to a safety concern.
The 2017 Street Paving Project was also awarded to New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co., Inc. for $263,274.45. New Enterprise was the lowest bidder for the project.