The Charlestown Business Center
AMENDED ORDINANCE NO. 2005-OR-12
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING RATES AND CHARGES FOR THE USE OF SERVICES RENDERED BY THE WASTEWATER UTILITY OF THE CITY OF CHARLESTOWN, INDIANA
WHEREAS, the City of Charlestown (the "City") owns and operates a Wastewater Utility for the purpose of collecting, treating and discharging wastewater of the City, and properly protecting the health, well-being and property of the City and its inhabitants; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Charlestown, Indiana (the "Common Council") has caused a financial study of the municipal wastewater utility to be made by Crowe and Chizak and Company, LLC (the "Rate Study"); and
WHEREAS, the Rate Study indicates that the current rates and charges will be insufficient to meet the reasonable financial requirements and the necessary capital improvements to the utility and the wastewater rates and charges should be increased; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Charlestown now finds that the existing rates and charges for the use of and service rendered by the wastewater utility of the City will be too low and are insufficient to pay all the necessary expenses incident to the operation of said utility, including legal expenses, maintenance costs, operating charges, repairs, lease rentals, debt service and debt service reserve, working capital, adequate money for improving and replacing the works, and that the existing rates and charges should be increased; and
WHEREAS, the rates adopted herein are nondiscriminatory, just and equitable, and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance has been adopted following a duly noticed public hearing; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary and desirable that the rates and charges be sufficient to provide revenues to compensate the City for taxes that would be due on the utility property were it privately owned.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHARLESTOWN, INDIANA AS FOLLOWS:
Sec. 1. For the use and service rendered by said sewage works, rates and charges shall be collected from the owners of each and every lot, parcel of real estate or building that is connected with the City’s sanitary system or otherwise discharges sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids either directly or indirectly into the sanitary sewage system of the City of Charlestown, which rates and charges shall be payable as hereinafter provided and shall be in an amount determinable as follows:
The sewage rates and charges shall be based on the quantity of water used on or in the property or premises as the same is measured by the water meter there in use, except as otherwise provided in Ordinance No. 1995-13. Water meters shall be read once each month (or period equating to a month). One combined water and sewage bill shall be mailed to each customer each month (or period equating to a month). This bill is due and payable prior to the 10th day of the month. A penalty shall be added to any sewage portion of a bill if allowed to become 30 days delinquent.
(b). The water usage schedule on which the amount of said rates and charges shall be determined as follows:
Consumption Per Month
(Rate Per 1000 Gallons)
First 5,000 gallons $ 9.86
Next 5,000 gallons 8.06
Next 10,000 gallons 7.00
Next 30,000 gallons 6.36
Next 50,000 gallons 5.62
Next 100,000 gallons 4.88
The minimum charge for any service where the user is a metered consumer shall be based on the size of such meter and shall be as follows:
Minimum Monthly Charge
Based on Meter Size
5/8 inch meter $ 14.73
¾ inch meter 20.99
1 inch meter 34.98
1-1/2 inch meter 62.96
2 inch meter 104.94
3 inch meter 163.24
4 inch meter 209.88
provided, however, that the minimum charge shall be based on a meter size not more than one size smaller than the service line in which the meter is installed.
The minimum charge for any service where the user is not a metered consumer shall be based on the size of the service connection, but no charge shall be less than the corresponding minimum monthly meter charge.
Customers who were not customers as of June 27, 2005, and who are located outside of the corporate limits of the City of Charlestown shall pay the rates as calculated herein together with a surcharge of 50%. The 50% out-of-town surcharge shall also apply to Connection and Inspection, and Tap Fees as set forth in Ordinance No. 2001-OR-09.
Sec. 2. Except as expressly stated herein, the provisions of Ordinance No. 2001-OI-09 shall not be affected by this Ordinance. The unaffected provisions of Ordinance No. 1995-13 (specifically Sections 2 through 10) shall remain in effect. All schedules of rates and charges in conflict herewith are hereby superseded.
Sec. 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage.
Passed and adopted by the Common Council of the City of Charlestown, Indiana this 27th day of June, 2005.