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Council approves wastewater fee changes to fund plant improvements
Summary
An ordinance amending sewer charges and fees (Prattville Code Chapter 66) was adopted following a rate study; councilors said the enterprise fund must cover treatment costs and plant upgrades, and members noted prior improvements at the Pine Creek facility.
The Prattville City Council adopted an ordinance to amend sewer charges and fees after committee review of a rate study.
The council was told the changes were recommended to fund improvements to an aging wastewater treatment plant and to improve operational efficiency. "These are the fees that were suggested in looking at some improvements to the efficiency of the treatment of wastewater, as well as, the amount of wastewater that we treated," the meeting chair said during discussion. Councilors noted that earlier upgrades at the Pine Creek facility helped reduce energy costs and that the sewer fee revenues go into an enterprise fund.
The ordinance was presented to both the wastewater and finance committees in open public meetings before coming to the council. After brief discussion the council adopted the ordinance by voice/hand vote; the transcript does not include a roll-call tally.
Councilors characterized the change as necessary to avoid subsidizing the enterprise from the general fund and to ensure the utility can fund maintenance and upgrades. The ordinance will take effect as provided by law; staff did not list an effective date during the recorded discussion.
