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DuBois moves to amend sewage rates which will reflect increase
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
By Josh Woods Staff Writer
DUBOIS - DuBois City Council at its meeting last night approved the first reading of council bill No. 1873, amending the rates for treatment of sanitary sewage.
The ordinance would increase the monthly rental fee for sanitary sewage service for all those owning property within the boundary lines of the city and all municipalities with residents or taxpayers owning property that connects to the DuBois collection system.
It increases the monthly fee to $8 per 1,000 gallons of water per month or portion thereof.
The rate charged to industries and manufacturing companies located within the corporate boundaries of the city would be billed on a monthly basis.
The rates for industries and manufacturing companies are $8 for 1 to 400,000 gallons, $5.25 for 400,001 to 800,000 gallons, $3.45 for 800,001 to 1,200,000 gallons and $2.35 for any usage over 1,200,000 gallons.
An existing $2 surcharge rate would still be added to every monthly bill of every customer of the city's sewer system. The surcharge allows for the recovery of the principal and interest payments owed on the loans the city secured to complete the repair or replacement of main sewer transmission lines.
City Manager John "Herm" Suplizio said the sanitary sewage increase amounts to a 50-cent increase for 99 percent of the city's residents. Industries would see an increase of approximately 7 percent, he said.
The first reading was approved 4-0; Councilwoman Diane Bernardo was absent from the meeting.
A first reading of another ordinance amending the city's zoning map was also approved. The ordinance, recommended for approval by DuBois City Planning Commission, changes the zoning designation or the area bounded on the west by South Jared Street and Main Street and New Street, on the north by Sandy Lick Creek, on the east by Stockdale Street and McLloyd Terrace and on the south by East Weber Avenue to downtown commercial district.
Retail stores and shops, personal service shops, banks and financial services, public parking garages, restaurants, cafes, tearooms, hotels, taverns, theaters, assembly halls, billiard parlors, bowling alleys, funeral homes, bus passenger stations and offices are some of the permitted uses in a downtown commercial district. Solicitor Toni Cherry said no side yard setbacks or off street parking is required in the downtown commercial district.
In other business, council voted not to reroute truck traffic from Brady Street to Main and DuBois Streets.
Suplizio said the proposal to reroute truck traffic was not his, the mayor's or council's idea. Greater DuBois Chamber of Commerce's economic development committee brought the proposal to Suplizio's attention.
"Although I may not think that this is a good idea and it would just move one problem to another area and actually make things worse, I do think it's a good idea to bring up things and let people discuss them," said Suplizio. "I think that's what makes our mayor and council so good. We have always discussed things out in the public and not behind closed doors ... that's what makes our system work."
Suplizio said he agrees with the many phone calls and e-mails he has received stating it would not be a good idea to reroute traffic.
DuBois City Council's next meeting is June 25 at 7 p.m. at the city building. A work session is slated for June 21 at 4 p.m.
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