PUTNAM COUNTY — The Village of Ottawa extends water and sewer
services to communities outside of its municipal boundaries through an
agreement maintained with the County. Following an increase in water and
sewer rates for 2018 for Ottawa residents, these same increases have
now been passed to county residents served by the village as well.
The total rate for water customers will increase to $7.42 per hundred cubic foot. This represents an increase
of eight percent. Customers will be mailed invoices on approximately the
15th of each month, and a penalty of 10 percent will be assessed if the
previously billed amount is not paid by the last day of the month
billed. The 10 percent penalty rate replaces the previous $7 fine,
bringing the billing practice inline with how sewer customers are
billed.
The monthly sewer fee for county residents served by the
Village of Ottawa will increase by nine percent. The new rate in 2018
will be $9.45 per hundred cubic feet. This increase will impact the
monthly fees for county residents living with Sewer District No. 1, Sewer District No. 2, and those on living on Pohl Road.
For
these residents, the county projects the likely usage for the entire
year, which can fluctuate greatly from month-to-month, and provides a
set monthly fee to its customers. According to the commissioner’s
office, the fund typically balances out by the end of the year. Money is
not kept in reserve to cover any unforeseen or future costs. When a pump
breaks, or a similar cost is incurred, the county pays for the repair
out of its general fund, and then adjusts resident bills the next year,
paying back the general fund at that time.
The
new monthly fee for county residents of Sewer District No. 1 will be
$97.97. Those residents within Sewer District No. 1 who also reside
within the Village of Ottawa will see no increase in monthly fees from
the county. Their fee will remain $30 per month, which covers the
county’s maintenance costs. Those residents then receive an additional
bill from the Village of Ottawa for their sewer usage.
County
residents in Sewer District No. 2 will see an increase to $138.29 per
month. According to the commissioner’s office, these residents
experience higher infiltration and inflow rates than other areas of the
county, particularly during times of increased rainfall, resulting in the
higher rate.
Those residing on Pohl Road who receive sewer
services from Ottawa will see an increase in their monthly bill to
$95.16 per month.
Customers of Sewer District No. 1, Sewer
District No. 2 and those residing on Pohl Road will be mailed invoices
on approximately the 15th of each month, and a penalty of 10 percent
will be assessed if the previously billed amount is not paid by the
first day of the following month billed. As with the water rates, the
approximate mailing date, invoice deadline and penalty for non-payment
remains unchanged from the previous year.