The Scottsburg Common Council approved on first reading Order 2024-23 on Dec. 23, 2024, a measure the city says will change how multifamily sewer customers are billed by placing more weight on meter size and measured consumption rather than a flat estimated volume.

City staff told the council the prior approach charged multifamily accounts using an assumed usage figure and a single base fee, which often meant units billed under a single meter were effectively subsidized by the city. “We’re proposing to charge multifamily customers based on meter size and consumption rather than a flat estimate,” a staff presenter said during the meeting, explaining the rate-study rationale.

The proposed change will increase the meter base charge for many multifamily accounts while tying consumption charges to actual meter reads. Staff gave examples in the discussion: an originally proposed per-door charge of about $48.75 for multifamily units and a rise in certain meter-base charges cited in the discussion (a prior base near $18.24 noted for some customers and a proposed meter base of about $36.84 for similar meter sizes). The presenter said the city is phasing in new meters and expected replacements in the coming year to improve measurement accuracy.

Several council members raised concerns about meter calibration, how many units are actually served by a single meter, and whether duplexes or small multifamily buildings would be treated fairly. One council member said the proposal could raise costs for some tenants while lowering them for others; staff responded that the change is intended to be fairer by billing on consumption and by adjusting base charges to reflect meter capacity.

Richie Barton moved to pass the ordinance on first reading; the motion was seconded (the transcript does not specify who seconded). After brief additional comments, the council conducted a voice vote recorded in the meeting as three in favor and two opposed. The motion passed on first reading.

Next steps: the ordinance advanced after first reading; the transcript records no final adoption vote that night, so additional readings or procedural steps remain before the rate changes take effect.