11/23/2007 10:05:00 AM Sewer rates may be going up in Rocky Fork area 23 percent of residents in the area have left their sewer bills unpaid for an extensive amount of time
By KATIE WRIGHT Staff Writer
Residents of the Rocky Fork Lake area may be experiencing a raise in sewer rates in the near future, after the sewer system operating fund dwindled as the result of a large number of delinquent payers.
Frank Leone, of Environmental Engineering, told the Highland County Board of Commissioners during the board's regular meeting Wednesday that 23 percent of residents in the area have left their sewer bills unpaid for an extensive amount of time.
The lack of payment has put a strain on the sewage operating budget, leaving the county with little recourse but the raise the rates, he said.
"There's no way for the county to turn off the water for these people," he said. "So it's difficult to find a way to motivate them to pay their bills."
The rate, which currently stands at $21 per month, will likely be raised to $25.
Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey attended the meeting and said he planned to research what types of legal action - if any - could be taken with the delinquent residents.
Commissioner Rich Graves pointed out that on top of the sewage operating costs, the county will soon be responsible for the upkeep of the grinder pumps within the system.
"Our 10-year warranty on the grinder pumps will be up next year, and then we'll be responsible," he said. "These delinquents are cutting down on our reserve money to pay for that. The worst part is that we would have to up the rates for good, hard-working people who pay their bills, just because of the people who won't."
The board agreed to come up with a decision on the rates by next week.
Among other budget items, the board approved a 30-cent pay increase for the employees of Highland County Job and Family Services (DJFS). However, according to board clerk Roselyn Newman, the raise is tentative until the board of commissioners decides to give the same increase to the rest of the county.
"If the county does not give a pay raise to other employees this year, the DJFS won't accept it either," she said. "It may not happen because the county has to cut the budget."
