|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Halifax Town Council will hold a special called meeting tonight at 7
p.m. at Town Hall to discuss steep hikes in water and sewer rates
brought on by the town's participation in the newly formed Public
Service Authority.
Councilmen have only one item on their agenda, that being proposed
water/sewer rates for town customers for 2008.
According to Mayor Leon Plaster, the meeting was called to alert
citizens to the proposed increases in their water/sewer bills once the
Public Service Authority begins operations on January 1, 2008. Plaster,
who has served on the committee which set up the service authority,
said he believed based on communications with other officials that
rates would be little changed from the Town's 2007 billings, except for
small users. However, Plaster noted that when PSA bi-monthly billings
were unveiled, Halifax Town citizens saw significant increases. The
increases, he pointed out, range from 25 to 50 percent on bi-monthly
bills.
Our citizens should be aware of this increase prior to the December 4
public hearing (Tuesday night) at the Mary Bethune Complex, Plaster
said.
For instance, Halifax customers who use between 8000-8999 gallons of
water will pay $120.80 bimonthly whereas before the rate was $96.50.
Lower volume users of some 2000 gallons will pay $58.70, up from the
current bi-monthly charge of 30.80.
Plaster said tonight's meeting will not be a public comment forum
it's only to let people know what's coming, he said. But the
Authority is hosting a public comment period on the proposed rates
tomorrow night, Tuesday, December 4 at 7 p.m. in the second floor
meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex, when members will listen to
comments by residents.
Authority chairman Doug Bowman is urging the public to come out Tuesday
night and meet the new Executive Director, William Jones, of the
Authority. We are extremely fortunate to have Jones who has a lot of
experience in the field of water and sewer services . Bowman said.