Sewer board approves notices for nonresidential rate increase, presses developers on hookups and inspections

The Greene County Regional Sewer District voted to authorize staff to notify nonresidential customers that a previously passed ordinance raising EDU rates will be implemented on Jan. 1.

Speaker 3 said the ordinance had been passed in March but not enforced; he recommended notifying nonresidential customers across Greene, Martin and Davies counties of the change from $50 to $75 per EDU, and noted an $11-per-EDU additional charge applies in some counties, which would bring those customers’ charge to $86. ‘‘I think we need a motion to put out communication to all these customers… telling them an ordinance has been updated and the new rate has gone from $50 to $75 effective January,’’ Speaker 3 said. Speaker 7 moved to authorize sharing account lists with staff to send the letters; Speaker 2 seconded and the motion passed with audible 'Aye' votes.

Board members also addressed recurring inspection and compliance concerns after several commercial properties were connected to the sewer without notifying the district or paying required 'hook-on' fees. Speakers said those unauthorized hookups risk long-term maintenance and infiltration-and-inflow problems and agreed the district needs stronger front-end coordination. ‘‘We've got businesses hooking up their sewer without contacting us,’’ Speaker 3 said, noting multiple recent examples; Speaker 2 urged more enforcement and clearer permit conditions.

To improve early coordination, Speaker 4 proposed integrating the sewer district into the Westgate architectural review process and creating a technical review committee — including utilities, fire and law enforcement — so plan sets and will-serve letters circulate to all stakeholders before any work begins. The board asked staff to attach a notice to future will-serve letters requiring the district be contacted before excavation and to re-check mapping for two recent projects (Project Anaconda and Westgate 1) that had ambiguous county boundaries on the plans.

Operational staff also described mounting inspection and staffing pressure as the system grows. Speaker 2 said the time required to manage and inspect the system has increased and that certified operators are in short supply; he recommended reviewing the management contract and compensation as the district scales up. No changes to the management contract were adopted at this meeting; the board directed staff to continue communications with developers and to implement the rate-notification mailing.

The motion to send notices and update billing was recorded as passed; the board adjourned after concluding the agenda.