Colfax approves raising sewer rates by 3 percent
By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — Residents in the Village of Colfax can expect a 3 percent increase in their sewer rates after the first of the year.
The Colfax Village Board approved increasing the sewer rates by 3 percent at the December 11 meeting.
The current sewer rate is $4.50 per 1,000 gallons.
A 3 percent increase will result in a sewer rate of $4.64 per 1,000 gallons.
Lynn Niggemann, village administrator-clerk-treasurer, also provided information to the village board on the impact of a 5 percent increase, a 10 percent increase, a 15 percent increase, a 20 percent increase and a 25 percent increase.
The estimated annual increase in revenue for the sewer utility with a 3 percent increase in sewer rates will amount to $2,687.
The 3 percent increase is expected to raise an average sewer bill by 98 cents per quarter to $170.98
The Colfax Village Board also approved a 3 percent increase last year, going from a rate of $4.29 per 1,000 gallons to $4.50 per 1,000 gallons.
Approving a 3 percent increase is “not so bad,” Niggemann said, adding she believes it is better to increase in small increments rather than wait for years and then increase the rate all at once.
Increasing the sewer rate by 5 percent would increase the average quarterly residential sewer bill to $171.61, an increase of $1.61 per quarter, and would raise an additional $4,415 in revenue for the sewer utility.
A 10 percent increase would raise the average sewer bill by $3.15 per quarter to $173.15 and would raise an additional $8,693 in revenue for the sewer utility.
A 15 percent increase would raise the average sewer bill by $4.76 per quarter to $174.76 and would raise an additional $13,054 in revenue for the sewer utility.
A 20 percent increase would raise the average sewer bill by $6.30 per quarter to $176.30 and would raise an additional $17,278 in revenue for the sewer utility.
A 25 percent increase would raise the average sewer bill by $7.91 per quarter to $177.91 and would raise an additional $21,693 in revenue for the sewer utility.
The Colfax Village Board unanimously approved increasing the sewer rates by 3 percent.
In addition to Gary Stene, village president, Village Trustees Mark Halpin, Carey Davis, David Wolff, Annie Jensen and Keith Burcham voted in favor of the motion.
Village Trustee Casey Rihn was absent from the meeting.
Other business
In other business, the Colfax Village Board:
• Approved a training request from Colfax Police Chief Bill Anderson to attend the Law Enforcement Management Conference January 16 to January 18 in Superior.
• Approved a training request for Tim Rundle to attend basic general wastewater training February 5 through February 9, plus a test in May, in Chippewa Falls. The training is for ponds and lagoons for Rundle’s wastewater license. Rundle already has obtained his water operator’s license, said Rand Bates, director of public works.
• Approved a secondhand jewelry dealer license for Nancy Odom Mouledoux for Twice Blessed Treasures.
• Approved a 2018 mobile home park license for Donald and Marcia Henderson. The maximum number of mobile homes City View Villa Court will accommodate is 54 units.
• Learned that the following building permits had been issued: Mary Kiekhafer, 517 5th Avenue, new windows; Frank Franc, 101 Viking Drive, new garden shed; Mark Johnson, 209 Dunn Street, privacy fence in the backyard 41 feet out from the house and 77 feet long.