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BG enforces sewer service fee
Beech Grove apartment owners will soon see their monthly sewer bills jump by more than $7 per unit, an increase Mayor Dennis Buckley contends should have been implemented more than seven years ago.
Instead of one $7.10 service charge per apartment building, owners will be billed per residence or apartment. A six-unit building will command $42.20 monthly; 24 units will be billed $170.40. The service fee is billed in addition to usage charges.
In August 2004, city council members adopted an ordinance which established the multi-family building service charge. However, Buckley, who took office Jan.1, recently discovered the ordinance had not been enforced.
“During the transition (of mayors), I found out through the sanitation office that the apartment builders are only charged one service charge per building instead of per apartment, and that contradicts what the ordinance says,” Buckley said.
Buckley contends that then-Mayor Joe Wright should have enforced the ordinance seven years ago. “I don’t know why it took so long to correct,” Buckley said.
Efforts to contact Wright before deadline were unsuccessful.
Buckley informed city council members of the issue Jan. 3, an error he claims surprised them.
So, effective Jan. 23, when the new billing period starts, each apartment unit will be assessed the service charge. Buckley said this affects more than 1,000 units in roughly 15-20 apartment complexes. Only the owners will see the increase in sewer bills.
“I don’t like to burden the apartment complexes, but the law is the law,” said Buckley.
Buckley has used his administrative authority to enforce the ordinance. He has instructed sanitation clerk Linda Mohr to follow the law as she completes billing. The mayor foresees no negative impact.
“The city will gain revenue needed to invest in equipment and people, such as trash trucks, other sewer projects, stormwater projects and stuff like that,” he said.
He and the city council have begun reviewing all ordinances that impact permit fees. He hopes to adjust fees that have not been raised in more than 16 years so they will be more consistent with those of neighboring communities.
“At the last Board of Works meeting, we verified that there had not been any maintenance in our sewer system in more than three years,” said Buckley. “We plan to start maintenance and repairs to the sewer this spring.”
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