Franklin Sewer Bills Up $5.00 a Month

FRANKLIN, Ind – The Franklin City Council approved (with one “no” vote from Joseph Abban) to increase the Franklin City Sewer Bill by $5.00 for a single family residence, $2.50 for apartment and mobile homes, $15.01 for nonresidential users with greater than 40,000 sq. ft. of land and 5.00 for non residential users with less than 40,000 sq. ft. of land.

The monies are to be added to your existing monthly sewer bill and to be applied to providing substantial improvements in “Storm Water Management.”

Several projects are under-study to determine their priority and potential as well as costs.

A conservative estimate for accomplishing any of the large projects is 12 – 24 months out.

The projects include a Canary Creek Ditch Detention Pond and an Old Town Watershed Capital Improvement Project.

There are approximately 7,000 single family residences, 900 apartments and mobile homes, 690 nonresidential with less than 40,000 sq. ft. and 850 with greater than 40,000 sq. ft. of land in Franklin.  This will generate approximately $567,000 annual revenue.

The bonding capability is limited to approximately, $2.88 million and it was recommended that the bonding for the projects should be limited to $2 to $2.5 million in order to leave some breathing room for operating emergencies.

Ann Gordon made a motion to establish a base rate of $7.59 that was voted down.  Gordon’s logic was that she doesn’t want to come back for more and wants to make sure the revenue is adequate to make a substantial difference.

Joseph Abban voted against the $5.00 rate and requested a base rate of $3.50, with a focus on minimizing the impact on the citizens in the short term because of the economy.

The bond issue was table until a later date when more specific project information was available.

Presentations on this subject were made by Todd Wilkerson, City Engineer; Richard Dewitt, MS4 Coordinator.

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