Fiscal court approves sewer rate increase

Local News

December 16, 2010

By Lorie Love Hailey Register Editor The Richmond Register Thu Dec 16, 2010, 08:00 AM EST

RICHMOND — Several residents expressed concern Wednesday about a sewer rate increase being considered by the Madison Fiscal Court.

The residents, who are served by the Northern Madison County Sanitation District, attended Wednesday’s meeting, where the court approved second reading of an ordinance which allows the district to raise rates for 2011, and raise rates by10 percent in 2012 and 10 percent in 2013. In 2014, the rates will be tied to the federal consumer price index.

Many of the residents who attended the meeting live in Battlefield Estates. A number of the district’s customers live around Exit 95 off Interstate 75. Residential customers also live in Executive Park off Berea Road and in the Moberly community off Irvine Road.

Dwight Barkley said he and his Battlefield Estates neighbors wanted to know why the increase was necessary and inquired about where the money would go.

Operating costs have risen 54 percent from 2007 to 2010, said Jim Rowe, chairman of the Northern Madison County Sanitation District, but the district has not increased its rates in four years.

Electric rates have increased 46 percent, health insurance for employees is up 42 percent, EPA testing supplies have risen 49 percent, chemical use is up by 97 percent and audit requirements have increased 100 percent, Rowe said.

“It is expensive to run a sewer system, to do the testing, keep the pumps running and all of this,” Rowe said.

He said the district is running $249,000 short this year in its budget and that is why the increase was requested.

Last year, the district’s revenue was $806,000, said Kent Clark, county judge/executive, but operating costs were more than $1 million.

Fewer home construction projects account for part of the problem, Clark said. The district is projected to serve about 2,000 customers, but only serves 1,700.

“They have to have a sewer rate increase to continue to operate. The economy is tough, but you have to have some of these things and people have to have utilities, and they’re going to continue to go up,” he said.

Rowe said if rates are not raised, the district would likely fall into receivership, with the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority taking over and imposing its own rates, which he said would be much higher.

Such a scenario would likely disqualify Madison County for future low-interest KIA loans, he said.

Magistrate Roger Barger, who represents residents in the Northern Madison County Sanitation District, criticized the sanitation district for not taking action when they first realized operating costs were rising and revenue was declining.

He said if the district had not waited, smaller increases could have been added incrementally.

“Over the past three years, you’ve known the cost is going up,” he said.

Magistrate Bill Tudor said Barger’s criticism was justified, but, “I don’t think we can spend too much to keep our water supply a healthy water supply,” he said.

“It is a bitter pill to swallow, but it is part of the costs of our standard of living,” he said.

According to the new rate structure, the new minimum rate (for 0-280 cubic feet) is $34.50. For 281 cubic feet and above, there will be a $5.75 charge for every 100 cubic feet. The maximum monthly charge is capped at $57.50.

Customers using 4,000 gallons a month — or 535 cubic feet — would have a sewer usage fee of $49.15, according to information provided by the judge/executive’s office.

In other business:

• The court approved the purchase of a new coroner’s van.

Coroner Jimmy Cornelison said his current vehicle — a cargo van — was purchased in 1999 and, “it has just about had it,” Cornelison said. “We have trouble getting it started.”

The new van, which will cost about $30,500, will separate the driver from the back of the van, which will help when bodies must be transported to Frankfort for autopsies.

In two separate incidents this year, the coroner’s office has had to take severely decomposing bodies to Frankfort, Cornelison said.

“It is a health issue,” he said.

Cornelison said the van would last about 15 to 20 years, because the vehicle is parked inside and the farthest it must be driven is to Frankfort.

• First reading was approved for a land use change at 1239 Barnes Mill Road, changing the zoning for .44 acres from Urban Corridor Residential to Urban Corridor Neighborhood Commercial. The owner of the land plans to open a gift shop.

• The court honored Walter Lee Cornelison for his service to Madison County’s water districts since 1985. He is retiring.

• The 2011 budget for the Madison County Clerk’s Office was approved.

Lorie Love Hailey can be reached at editor@

richmondregister.com or 624-6690.

Text Only

Local News

Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
Officers responded to a call in the 1000 block of Scaffold Cane Road about a man trying to break into a home, according to a release from BPD Public Information Officer Jake Reed.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Pets of the Week from the Madison County Animal Shelter
The Madison County Animal Shelter is located at 1386 Richmond Road in Berea. Shelter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Animals available for adoption can be seen from noon to close Monday through Saturday. The adoption fee for cats and kittens is $10. Puppies and grown dogs may be adopted for $25. Adoptions include a free veterinary exam, a first series of vaccinations, a discount on spaying and neutering, free licensing and de-worming. Call the shelter at 986-9625.

May 25, 2012 2 Photos
A big sister’s reflection on life, love and changes
Yesterday was my Little Sister’s graduation. This one, though, was especially important to me.

May 24, 2012 2 Photos
Veterans will conduct Memorial Day programs
Although Memorial Day weekend may be a time of picnics and barbecue for many, some will be observing the day’s original meaning.

May 24, 2012
EKU Arts Center attendance tops 50,000 mark
The Center for the Arts at Eastern Kentucky University has played host during its inaugural season to more than 50,500 guests from more than 30 states and abroad, according to data released by EKU.

May 24, 2012 3 Photos
Man charged with rape, kidnapping
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Irvine man early Wednesday morning on charges of rape, kidnapping and assault.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call at 3:30 a.m. in the area of Panola and Knob Lick, according to sheriff’s office spokesperson Willard Reardon.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Summer break, here we come
Students and faculty at B. Michael Caudill Middle School participated in field day activities Wednesday. Today is Madison County Schools’ last day before summer break begins.

May 24, 2012 5 Photos
City to require pawn brokers, resellers to obtain, report records
The Richmond City Commission heard first readings of two ordinances Tuesday that are designed to thwart criminals’ ability to sell stolen items.
The ordinances will require pawn brokers, consignment stores, junk/scrap metal dealers and other similar businesses to obtain the identities of their customers and keep records of items acquired.

May 24, 2012
County to settle on retirement back pay for two deputies
A settlement has been made in the case of two Madison County sheriff’s deputies seeking back hazardous duty retirement pay after being fired in 2010 by former Sheriff Nelson O’Donnell.

May 24, 2012
Grand jury indicts men in double-murder
Two men accused of killing a Richmond couple for money and then hiding their bodies in graves along Tates Creek Road were indicted Wednesday on capital charges by a Madison grand jury.
Matthew Denholm, 27, and Daniel Keene, 26, were both indicted on two counts each of murder, kidnapping and abuse of a corpse charges. They also were each indicted on tampering with physical evidence and first-degree burglary charges.
The indictments were returned around 2 p.m. and read by Judge Jean C. Logue. Commonwealth’s Attorney David Smith said he expected Denholm and Keene would be arraigned in Madison Circuit Court in mid-June.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Fiscal court approves sewer rate increase

A recent health ranking listed Madison County as the 20th healthiest county in the state. It measured factors such as exercise, access to health care and smoking. Do you smoke cigarettes?

Site Map