CENTERBURG — Issues with sewer and stormwater lines prompted village council members to discuss infrastructure concerns at their meeting on Monday and consider investing in upgrades.
A sewer blockage on Preston Street sent wastewater into four or five basements, followed by a second backup into another home when crews attempted to clear the line.
Village Administrator Richard Dzik said that from the insurance carrier’s perspective, once the village knows of an issue, it is obligated to resolve the issue in a reasonable time frame.
If the village was unaware of an issue, it falls onto the home owner’s insurance.
However, if the village makes a repair that causes another issue, such as a Preston Street incident that caused about $10,700 in damages, the village’s insurance covers the cost.
Council members discussed inspecting manholes that have a history of issues more frequently than nonproblematic manholes.
Dzik said that as part of resolving the problems, he will likely request about $200,000 in equipment purchases:
•Lift vehicle for employees to go into manholes
•Sewer camera to camera lines
•Jet trailer to jet out the lines
Dzik plans to pay for the equipment through $1 million in the sewer fund held in reserve for special projects.
The village also has stormwater problems in addition to sewer. Dzik said it is time the village consider discussing creating a stormwater utility.
“If council decides that we want to try and generate some customer savings on aggregation, if we want to discuss and maybe realize some customer savings on trash hauling, then maybe a small fee per month to go into a stormwater utility fund wouldn’t be bad,” he said.
“We’re probably getting to the point where we need to start generating some revenue for stormwater fixes because right now the solution is we spend general fund money.”
Council learns more about gas, electric aggregation
Council members gave a second reading to legislation establishing gas and electric aggregation programs for the village.
Bob Snavely of Palmer Energy explained the process.
If voters approve aggregation programs on the November ballot, the village has the ability to cede authority to the county to act as an aggregator.
The Knox County Board of Commissioners has started the process of becoming an aggregator.
Being an aggregator means the county can pool together groups of customers and buy gas or electric on their behalf.
Fredericktown and Mount Vernon plan to cede authority to the county. Townships can also cede authority if they choose.
The advantage of joining the county’s aggregation program is that it increases the bulk buying power, which results in lower prices.
Palmer Energy’s role is helping the county file the PUCO paperwork. The company will also send out a Request For Proposal (RFP) to gas and electric suppliers and evaluate the bids.
“It’s important to know this is an opt-out program. So if you’re directly with the utility, you’ll get an opt-out letter in the mail,” Snavely said. “If you don’t do anything, you’ll be in the program. If you fill out the opt-out paperwork, you, you’re out of the program.”
Residents can opt in or opt out at any time without incurring a charge from the program.
Snavely said it is an opt-out program because participation rates are so low in an opt-in program that there is little to no price benefit.
Conversely, he said suppliers like high participation rates with opt-out programs because historically they can make money as well as offer a competitive price.
Doing what’s best for the customer
Snavely said that if the aggregation price is higher than regular utility rates, Palmer recommends residents return to the utility. If the utility rate rises later on and is higher than the aggregation price, residents can then return to aggregation.
Snavely noted that the transmission and distribution charges are still intact. The only rate that changes is the electricity cost.
