The city discussed bulk-user sewer contracts and directed the city attorney to send certified letters to off‑site bulk customers about a proposed rate increase; commissioners signaled they would consider up to an 8% increase for the off‑site customer and to pursue stronger enforcement tools and maintenance obligations for in-city bulk users.

Background and current charges: staff said the off‑site bulk customer (identified in the record as "Stage Barn") currently pays $55.35 for sewer service (broken out in staff remarks as $55.35 for sewer, $7.90 for SRF, and $2.20 for a debt reserve; staff noted the bill as displayed to the customer appeared higher after the customer’s administration fee). Staff also said the off‑site customer pays the city $6,475 per month for sewer only. Pine Hills, a bulk user located inside Somerset city limits, currently pays the same per-lot residential rate as other city residents ($36 per month), and staff said Pine Hills has not signed an addendum the city requested.

Rate options and process: staff presented computed impacts for 5%, 6%, 7% and 8% increases. Commissioners agreed to notify the off‑site customer by certified letter that the board would consider adjustments at its next meeting and authorized a letter that would permit consideration of increases of up to 8%. The commission recorded a motion instructing the city attorney to send that certified notice; the motion passed.

Enforcement and maintenance: commissioners and staff discussed repeated sewer overflows and the difficulty of compelling maintenance on privately owned bulk-user lines. Staff recommended creating or strengthening a bulk-user ordinance requiring periodic maintenance (for example, annual flushing and camera inspections every few years) and increasing fines for sewer overflows. Staff described an incident in which a bulk user’s line backed up and sewage was observed on the surface; staff recommended using special assessments and existing ordinance penalties (the meeting referenced ordinance 92.999) to recoup response costs and compel compliance. Commissioners directed staff and the city attorney to draft a separate bulk-user ordinance with maintenance and enforcement provisions.

Next steps: the city attorney will send certified notice to the off‑site bulk customer about the possible rate increase, staff will send certified notices and schedule discussion at the Jan. 16 meeting, and staff and legal counsel will draft a bulk‑user ordinance to require maintenance and provide enforcement tools (fines, special assessments and license revocation) if the city must remediate overflows.