Rossville to raise water rates; meeting planned Monday
May 05, 2010 | 769 views | 4 
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The city of Rossville has not raised the rates since 1994, according to city clerk Sherry Foster.
“Up until last year we were okay with where rates were, but sewage treatment has double and we are now loosing money big time,” Foster said.
The city is losing about $12,000 a month, according to mayor Johnny Baker.
The city isn’t seeking to make money with the increase, but the city can’t afford to continue to loose money, Baker said.
The resolution reads, “The Mayor and Council deem it in the best interest of the City to tie its rate, tariffs, and sewer charges to like rate tariffs and sewer charges of the City of Chattanooga.”
Rossville citizens receive their water and monthly bills from Tennessee American Water, which in turn refunds a portion to the city of Rossville toward the payment of sewerage services, which the city then pays to Moccasin Bend Treatment plant.
The mayor expects to receive the actual figures on what the increase will amount to for Rossville citizens, which will vary based on total usage.
An increase of 50 percent of the sewer rate portion of the bill is anticipated by Terry Reynolds, senior designer for ARCADIS, who is analyzing the long overdue increase, which will amount to several dollars for the average homeowner while commercial properties will see a more dramatic increase.
If the resolution passes, it will go into effect on June 1, and any future increases would be in response to any increase in charges incurred.
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"Sanitary Sewer System: User Billing Rates Analysis." Would calling it dry reading be appropriate?? Certainly not an ideal way to spend Friday night.
Yesterday at 7:38pm
THE ABOVE IS A POST FROM TEDDY HARRIS'S FACEBOOK PAGE.
Teddy don't tell me you and your friends on the council waited until the Friday before the meeting on the rate hike to read the report and make a decision. No wonder we are in the shape we are in Rossville. This does not sound like good planning and review of such a large tax that will effect the citizens.
This resolution will tie the sewer rates of the City of Rossville GA to those of the City of Chattanooga TN. This will ensure that the proper amount of funds will be collected for sewer processing.
Rossville last adjusted sewer rates in 1994.
The city has a proprietary fund dedicated for sewe...r processing charges.
The current sewer processing charges from Moccasin Bend Waste Water Treatment Facility are more than the funds that the city is currently collecting from Tennessee American Water Company. Current processing charges will soon deplete the city proprietary fund.
2009 recorded a loss of $112,784 from the proprietary fund for sewer processing.
Contrary to publish reports the City of Rossville does not raise or lower water rates.
Water rates are controlled by Tennessee American Water Company.
http://www.amwater.com/tnaw/
The City of Rossville has no control over sewer processing charges.
Sewer Processing fees are controlled by the Moccasin Bend Waste Water Treatment.
http://www.bmpcoe.org/bestpractices/internal/chatt/chatt_16.html
If anyone has any questions please feel free to send me an email here on facebook and I will be glad to call or meet to discuss the process with you.
TH
ABOVE IS A POST TEDDY HARRIS PUT ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE.
Here is what I have to say about that.
I have one question Teddy. If the city has no control over what the water and sewer charges are then why are we at the Peerless site paying 1,071.85 in water and sewer fees directly to the city of Rossville. Based on my calculation we should be paying roughly 89.00 a month for sewer and 6.50 for the city fee. Please help me understand.
I think I can explain it. Teddy is either not being truthfull or he is not properly informed about what is really going on in the city goverment. It is obvious we at the Peerless site are paying substantially more than what Chattanooga or TN American water charges for their services.
302.34 Basic Service (paid to city)
241.28 Water Volume/ Usage (TN Water portion)
762.41 Rossville Sewer (paid to city)
6.50 Rossville Administrative Fee
51.64 Other Charges (TN Water)
With that said we pay 1.071.85 to the city of Rossville for sewer each month. We used 66,000 galons of water last month. That makes our water cost roughly .005 cents a gallon. Based on the city fees of 1,071.85 our current sewer fees are .015 cents a gallon. That is 3 times the water rate. How is it that we are paying 3 time our water cost to the city.
This is not to mention the city uses our sewer and refuses to pay their bill for the usage of our sewer system to transport the citys sewer to the city of Chattanooga.
My point is the city is not exactly being fair or truthfull to the citizens.
Also I noticed Teddy Harris did not bother to post this article on his Facebook page. Maybe he is embarrased and does not want to tell his friends everything he is doing.
Les COffey
For more information on treatment cost, inquiry's should be directed to the Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant
MBWTP is the regional authority that provides this service to the surrounding residents.