10/10/2005
Media Contact:
Steve Campbell, 327-3622
Margie Smith-Simmons, 327-4669 |
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Council to receive Mayor's plan to make Indianapolis neighborhoods cleaner, healthier
INDIANAPOLIS-Mayor Peterson's sweeping plan to curb raw sewage overflows to rivers and streams, address chronic flooding and eliminate thousands of failing septic systems will be introduced to the City-County Council tonight.
Over the next three years, the plan includes $400 million in sewage overflow and sanitary sewer/treatment projects and $35 million in flood control and drainage improvements. These improvements will be financed by increases in sanitary sewer fees, stormwater utility fees and sewer connection fees paid by property owners and developers who connect for the first time to the sewer system.
Sewer fees, which are currently less than $10 a month, and stormwater fees, which are less than $1.50, will rise over the next three years, but will still be lower than most cities across the state and country. Projects that would be funded by the rate increase can be found on-line at www.indycleanstreams.org. Residents can search either by township or Council district to find planned projects in their areas.
Sewer improvements. Raw sewage overflows from outdated sewers are a century-old problem faced by many cities, especially in the Midwest and Northeast. When it rains, sewage can overflow into our rivers and streams - and even into backyards and basements. To reduce sewer overflows, the average household user's sewer bill would rise from $9.59 a month for 5,400 gallons of water use to $12.38 a month in 2006, $15.17 in 2007 and $17.96 in 2008. If approved, the first increase would appear on water/sewer bills in January 2006.
Stormwater improvements. Flooding and standing water in streets, yards and basements are a persistent problem; in many Indianapolis neighborhoods. To tackle these problems, the Mayor has announced he would support a $1 increase to the current $1.25 per month stormwater utility fee, raising the fee to $2.25 per housing unit. If approved, this fee will appear on residents' property tax bills next spring.
Connecting to city sewers. The city also proposes a new $2,500 sewer connection fee to be charged for a new house or for a house connecting with city sewers. Multi-family housing will pay $2,500 per unit; industrial and commercial connections would pay a proportional amount based upon meter size. This fee will require new connections and new developments to help pay into the sewer system that has been built by others before them.
Eliminating septic tanks. If the City-County Council approves the new rates, the city will stop using the state's Barrett Law for all new septic conversion projects. Under the Barrett Law, the city charges property owners for construction of city sewers in existing neighborhoods. Under the new Septic Tank Elimination Program (STEP), the city will bring sewer service to approximately 18,000 homes in the next 20 years.
The city has been working since 2001 to gain approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for its long-term plan to address raw sewage overflows. Both agencies have approved the second phase of the city's plan, which will be partially funded through this rate increase.
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