The Crothersville Town Council unanimously approved double digit rate increases for both the water and sewer utilities for customers beginning next month.
The increase is based on a rate study accounting and consulting firm Baker Tilly conducted last year
Clerk-Treasurer Danieta Foster pointed out last month that while the increase percentages would remain the same, the 4,000 gallon consumption used by Baker Tilly, an Indianapolis rate consultant, is higher than most Crothersville utility customers use each month, she said.
She provided numbers for fewer gallons consumed and a total monthly utility bill.
“Many of our customers forget that their monthly bill is not just for water and sewer but also includes trash collection, recycling, and storm water fees,” she said
A customer using 1,000 gallons of water is currently paying $85.93 per month for all services. That is projected to increase by about $15 to $100.95, she said previously.
For a consumption of 2,000 gallons, the monthly utility bill would go from $99.32 to $118.56, less than a $20 increase.
A customer using 3,000 gallons of water is currently paying $117.56 for all town services and that is projected to increase to $141.14, she said.
The last increase in sewer rates was approved by the town council in December 2020. The last water rate increase was approved in 2019 with annual incremental increases over five years.
By comparison, Foster earlier told the council that (Duke Energy’s) electric rates went up three times in the past two years.
By a 5-0 vote following public hearings on both rate increases, the council approved the proposed water and sewer rate ordinances.
Crothersville residents can expect to see the rate increase with their May utility bill.
In other matters, the council unanimously approved a proposed housing development on County Road 1025 E (Bethany Road) southwest of town.
Forty acres owned by Greg & Angela Hoevener has been asked to be annexed into the town limits to allow for Scottsburg based Bridge Construction to develop a Phase 1 10-acre housing subdivision on the west side of Bethany Road.
Jerry Bridge told the council that homes would be a minimum of 1,200 square feet with an attached single car garage. He added that many of the residential lots have already been sold.
In other housing matters, the council approved allowing Drew Royalty to construct two homes on a .35 of an acre parcel immediately north of 106 N. Bethany Road.
•The council approved contracting with Reedy Financial Services of Seymour for the town’s budgeting and future financial planning at a cost of $24,000 per year.
•Unanimously approved the real and personal property tax abatement compliance for Sims Bark.
•Re-appointed Jay Lawrence to another term on the Crothersville Parks Board.