City Council Recap: Canal Dredging, Sewer Rates, Bonuses, Outsourcing Water to Ira and More

Special assessment district gets hearing date

Many attendees at the New Baltimore City Council meeting Monday night were concerned about the potential formation of a special assessment district for a canal dredging project.

A show of hands revealed that a majority of residents at the meeting were opposed to the project that would charge the Schmid Haven Subdivision, located behind the on Main Street, the cost of dredging the canals by their homes.

Under a special assessment district, the property owners would be given a certain amount of time to cover their portion of the fees for the project estimated to take place in spring, according to the city.

On Tuesday, New Baltimore Clerk Marcia Shinska said the city would not be responsible for the cost of dredging the canal in that area, but would incur costs of any work done at the mouth of Crapaud Creek.

The city did not have complete information about the specific fees residents would face Tuesday, she said.

Dredging is necessary, project proponents say, because sediment has made the canals too shallow for boat use. However, residents will have their say about this issue during a 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 public hearing inside the municipal meeting room in the . For now, that meeting is set to be the only one at the station; following meetings are to resume at .

Homeowners affected by this issue are expected to receive letters from the city within two weeks to inform them of the hearing and further information on the project.

Check back with Patch for more details on this issue.

Sewer rates to rise

To address a projected $150,000 sewer shortfall for 2012, council approved to increase rates by 50 cents at the meeting.

The higher fees, which come to $5.97 per 1,000 gallons of water, will be effective April 1 and appear on customers' bills in July, according to the city.

New Baltimore to service Ira with H20

Council also agreed to help bring in revenue.

Under the proposed fees of $3.19 per 1,000 gallons of water, Ira residents would be charged the same amount as city residents. That additional money for the city means New Baltimore water customers will not be charged for previously anticipated water increases.

"We've been talking to Ira for over a year now," Mayor Larry Smith said before the meeting. "It appears that they just don't have enough water clients because of the rural area."

Noting many Ira customers have well water, the mayor pointed out township officials are interested in saving money on their full-time water plant by cutting hours of operation.

"They're going to run their plant for six to eight hours a day and we're going to supply them with water for 16 to 18 hours a day," he said. "Because of this, we won't have to raise water rates" for city customers, as was expected to keep up with costs.

Historical building to be evaluated

Council also approved the request by the city Historic District Commission to seek three bids from .

Bids for the work, estimated to start at about $3,600 each, are to be narrowed down to one by the commission with a recommendation to council. That will allow the city to make an informed decision about the building's future in light of a funeral home business' interest in demolishing it and replacing it with another funeral home.

Clerical workers, department heads to get bonus

After closed session, city officials said they decided to authorize a half-percent bonus for non-union employees that will be reflected on next week's payroll.

City officials, such as the mayor, clerk, treasurer and councilmembers will not receive the bonus, Shinska said Tuesday.

The decision comes on the heels of the same increase for unionized city employees, with the exception of command officers in the police department. Those higher-ranking police officers, holding ranks of lieutenant, sergeant and detective, are heading into arbitration with the city to seek higher pay increases, she said.

The council also decided on a medical marijuana dispensary moratorium Monday night. For more information on that matter, .