MOUNT VERNON – Mount Vernon wastewater customers will pay more starting with their April bills as City Council during its Jan. 25 meeting approved a 15% rate hike that raises the minimum monthly bill to $22.56.
The rate hike ordinance raises wastewater bills by 15% for three years. In 2022, the minimum monthly bill for almost 3,000 gallons of wastewater will increase to $25.92. The next increase in 2023 will take the minimum bill to $29.80.
The council approved Councilwoman Tammy Woods’ amendment to move the effective date of the rate hike to March 1, with it appearing first in April invoices. Her amendment also removed an automatic annual 10% rate hike for seven years starting in 2024.
Another change requires City Council to review the wastewater user charge during the first regularly scheduled council meeting each November.
After three years the city may need a small rate increase; Brian Ball, director of Engineering, said in response to a question by Councilman Mike Hillier.
“But we don’t know,” Ball said. “And back to your point, Mr. Hillier; we don’t want to set those numbers and be wrong, too high or too low.”
In other business, City Council also approved a human resources director position at a starting salary of $70,000.
“We have 180 employees,” Councilwoman Samantha Scoles said. “Any business I think with this number of staff would have probably a whole HR department.”
All council members were in support. They were hesitant last year with uncertainty of City finances due to the pandemic. Now that the funds are available, the proposal was approved.
The City will join the Knox County Regional Planning Commission for planning services. Hillier will be the City Council representative with Scoles as an alternate. City residents appointed to the commission were Ed Connell and Amber Keener. Mayor Matt Starr represents the City’s Planning Commission.
Hillier’s motion to indefinitely postpone a revision to the City’s accessory structure regulations was approved. Council members had called him as late as 10 minutes before the meeting asking questions about the proposed changes, which made him believe not everyone understood it as much as other issues before council.
He asked Lacie Blankenhorn, the City’s Development Services manager, to get input from the City’s Zoning Board of Appeals. He learned Law Director Rob Broeren had been in contact with some of the board’s members, but never found out what information they had.
“I wish I would have, because it might have a little difference on where we're going,” Hillier said.
