Pierceton HIres Firm To Study Water And Sewer Utility Rates
Posted
Teresa Carrano-
PIERCETON – The town council hired Baker Tilly, a public accounting and consulting firm, to study the water and sewer utility rates at Monday’s meeting.
Baker Tilly representatives will recommend possible rate changes at a future meeting. Costs are $6,500 per review and the expenditure of $13,000 was approved.
“What we need to do is improve cash flow for the utilities,” said Councilman Tom Barker. “One way to improve cash flow is by increasing the rates. No changes have been made yet.”
Another way to increase cash flow is to increase line cap and shut off fees and establish a fee for turn-ons.
“We’re trying to make it fair,” Barker said. “The same people are late month after month. Their service is turned off. They pay the bill and the small shut-off fee and want the water turned back on that afternoon. We need to be charging more.”
The council noted none of the rates have been changed and they’ll wait for the Baker Tilly report to make final decisions.
To begin testing water meters for accuracy, the council approved the purchase of testing equipment for $2,650. Utility Superintendent Casey Boggs said 40 to 50 meters have to be tested per year on a rotating basis. Costs to have an outside company provide the service was estimated as $1,600 per year.
Boggs also said training to use the underground pipe and wire locating device, would start the first week of March.
Town Marshal Tim Sammons said officer Ashley Jones’ academy training has been set for March 15 to June 25.
The monthly call report shows 191 calls from central dispatch, 46 traffic stops and investigations of eight other cases.
Sammons said the 800 megahertz in-car radios have arrived and will be installed and used as soon as the capabilities are up and running.
The council preapproved a request by Matthew Wilhite, 404 N. Fourth St., to encroach on the Wayne Street 10-foot setback to construct a garage. Building within the setback is in character for the neighborhood. The request will move to the county Area Plan Commission for final approval.
The council also approved a policy, in the form of an ordinance, to keep employees on the payroll if they have tested positive for COVID-19 and must isolate themselves for a certain number of days. The new policy is immediately effective.
Council members are Barker, Matt Brubaker and Mandy Espinoza. The next council meeting is March 8 at 6:30 p.m.
