Rockville Town Board hikes sewer fee, talks irrigation program

Months of complaining and worry about rates being raised ended in complete silence as the Rockville Town Board held a public hearing and meeting where it voted to raise sewer rates. 

Nobody spoke up during the public hearing portion of the meeting, nor did anyone offer public comment as board member Dr. Steve Waltz made a motion and Parke Swaim seconded it in favor of raising sewer rates from $60.61 to $75.61 a month. Swaim and Waltz were joined by board president Liddy Dowd-Wright in voting in favor, while board member Dave Brown voted against the measure. Board vice president Chris McCann was not in attendance. 

"I voted against it because you have a board member not paying a sanitary sewer bill," Brown told The Parke County Post. 

Rockville Clerk-Treasurer Brandy Asher confirmed to The Parke County Post and GIANT fm News Thursday morning that the ordinance will have to be redone as it only includes residential 5/8 meter charges and not larger meters. 

In addition, town officials heard from resident Keegan Wimsett concerning an irrigation billing proposal during the summer for his turf and plants. Wimsett brought a copy of an ordinance from the town of Clinton, and stated Clinton charges residents $20 to participate in the program and then the  cost of sewage is averaged during the winter and adjusted during the summer. The program applies only to irrigation of turf, plants, gardens and landscaping. 

Asher said town attorney Nick Sauter will prepare an ordinance for the program, however, it will be open only for those who sign up and pay the annual fee. 

"Then we will average their sewer cost from March to October and charge that flat rate in the summer months while they are using more water," Asher said, adding she has run the numbers and some residents could see a big savings if they are a large water user.