HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 12-30 Maplewood sewer rates to rise more than 40 percent in '82 THE REVIEW Maplewood sewer rates to rise
more than 40 percent in '82 dee 30/9(/
By JONATHON CLYDE GLASS Those who qualify for the senior citizen to account for roughly two-thirds of the
Staff Writer discount will not get as large a break in city's sewage expenses in the coming five
1982.In previous years, they have paid years, while sewer maintenance and
Maplewood needs$1.6 million to dispose one half the amount billed to single family administration will account for the other
of 1.4 billion gallons of sewage and pay units,but next year they will be charged third.
sewage treatment costs in 1982.The city is two-thirds the single family rate,or$69. MWCC charges have gone up
increasing its sewer billing rates by The city staff has recommended that the dramatically this year due to the
roughly 41 percent to raise these funds. senior citizen discount be abolished in Metropolitan Council's decision to require
3M Company,which accounts for roughly 1983 because it could be construed as age Maplewood and other north suburban
41 percent of the sewage generated in the discrimination since those between the cities to pay a portion of the cost of
city,and those residents who quality for ages of 62 and 65 do not qualify. treating water which overflows four
senior citizen discounts,face even larger 3M Company,which generates roughly suburban lakes and enters St. Paul's
rate increases.' three times the sewage as the city's other sewers before reaching the treatment
The average single family or townhouse 238 non-residential customers, will pay plant. The exact division of expenses
unit owner,who discharges roughly 80,000 $.99 per thousand gallons of flow. That between St.Paul and the suburbs con-
gallons into the sewer system annually, comes to an annual payment of more than tinues to be a matter of dispute which the
will pay$105 in quarterly payments in $500,000.Smaller industrial users pay a Metropolitan Council hopes to settle next
1982.Duplex-owners will pay double that higher rate of$1.31 per thousand gallons, year.
amount. People living in apartments, equal to the residential rate. In the past, the city has instituted
condominiums and mobile homes, who The lion's share of the city's sewer regular small rate increases rather than
generally discharge 64,000 gallons of expenses comes from Metropolitan Waste infrequent but large increases,according
sewage per year,will pay$84 next year. Control Commission(MWCC)charges for to Maplewood Finance Director Dan
The rate for all these customers will be sewage treatment in its plants which Faust.The projected budgets for the next
$1.31 per thousand gallons of sewage filter all sewage before releasing it in the five years indicate more rate increases
discharged. Mississippi River.The MWCC charges of will be necessary to avoid deficits which
$1.2 to$1.6 million per year are expected could reach$619,000 by 1985.