10
September 7 – 20, 2013
Community
Wastewater, reclaimed water rates to increase BY TRACY HOUSE
Chandler homeowners can expect to see an increase in their water bill in October. The recent Chandler City Council vote to increase wastewater and reclaimed water rates for single-family dwellings is projected to take effect Oct. 1. This is not an increase to water user rates, however. Prior to putting the change in place, the city will put a notice on utility bills and in the city’s newsletter, says Dawn Lang, management services director for the City of Chandler. Along the way, Lang mentions the city has done numerous postings to get to this point to allow input and has done social media notifications. The approval increases wastewater rates 9% and reclaimed water rates 18%. The average monthly wastewater bill for the typical Chandler household would increase $2 per month as a result of the proposed rate increase. Reclaimed water rates primarily affect golf courses and homeowner associations (HOAs) that use the effluent for water features and irrigation. The proposed reclaimed water rate increase would equate to an annual increase per home of $1.54 per month, based on Chandler’s average of 278 homes per HOA, assuming the HOA passes the proposed increase on to homeowners. “Because wastewater for residents is a flat fee, it’s actually exactly a $2 increase for single family residential (homes),” Lang says. She clarifies that residents will not
see the reclaimed fee on their bill, but that it could be a cost passed on from the HOA through the fees paid if the HOA does not absorb the rate increase. Per city financial policy, utility rates are reviewed every year to determine if rate increases are required to meet operating, capital or debt service costs. According to a city of Chandler public hearing notice, “These increases will cover additional debt service costs and related operating cost due to expanded infrastructure needs. They will also maintain the financial integrity of the water/wastewater enterprise, including debt service coverage and cash reserve policy requirements over the next fiscal year.” Lang notes, “Even with the increase in our wastewater rate, Chandler has the lowest wastewater rate in the Valley, even after the increase. That’s comparing us against Gilbert, Tempe, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Maricopa, Goodyear, a whole bunch of different cities. We are the lowest even after the increase. It just shows that we are really trying to keep our rates low and only when absolutely necessary for our infrastructure needs do we look at an increase.” Tracy House is the SanTan Sun News news editor. She lives in Ironwood Vistas with her husband and four children and can be reached at Tracy@SanTanSun.com.
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Police seek help identifying armed robbery suspect Detectives from the Chandler Police Department’s Robbery/ Homicide Unit are asking for the public’s help in identifying a white male who allegedly robbed the Bank of America branch at 2998 N. Alma School Rd. around 11 a.m. on Thu., Aug 15. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the unknown suspect fled on foot. Anyone with information relating to the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Chandler Police Department at 480-782-4130 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377). Silent Witness is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the suspect’s arrest or indictment. For more information, call Det. Seth Tyler at 480-782-4105.
BANK ROBBER: The public is asked to help identify a white male who reportedly robbed the Bank of America branch at 2998 N. Alma School Rd. at 11 a.m. Thu., Aug. 15. Call Chandler Police at 480-782-4130 with information. Submitted photo
Back to School Box Off Stone Hard Boxing is holding a Back to School Box Off Sat., Sept. 21. Weigh-ins will be held from 8 to 10 a.m., a coaches meeting will follow from 10 a.m. to noon. The boxing event will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. The event will be held at 590 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler. Coaches are asked to send a list of their fighters to Damien Stone at stonehard27@ aol.com or by calling 602-751-0030.