TOWER CITY - The Porter-Tower Joint Municipal Authority adopted a resolution Wednesday night to increase the base sewer rate from $94 per quarter to $130 per quarter.
Solicitor Gretchen Coles Sterns, Pottsville, said that the rate structure will stay the same as it was before, with there being a base rate and a usage rate, but only the base rate is increasing.
"The reason for the rate increase is the construction of the new plant," Sterns said. "The additional cost has to do with the processing waste, not necessarily the delivery of the waste."
According to newspaper archives, the authority is currently working on an $11 million project for a new sewage treatment facility and to modify existing facilities.
The Porter-Tower Joint Municipal Authority provides services to about 1,400 households in Tower City and portions of Porter Township. Orlick said he hopes to start opening the project for bid by mid-May.
The new plant will increase the capacity of the authority to extend its services to Williams Valley High School, which are currently using a failing plant. The plant already services the Williams Valley Elementary School.
Sterns said the usage rate is going to stay the same at $7.25 per 1,000 gallons.
The last time the authority set rates was in January 2012, when the base rate was set at $94 per quarter.
For public water customers, their usage will be based on their water consumption, while for well customers, unless they are metered, the authority will assume their consumption is 10,000 gallons.
This will be a $202.50 bill for well customers.
"The monies from the rate increase are the direct result of the new plant," Sterns said "We've planned the new plant in such a way as to be as energy efficient as possible, not requiring an increase in staffing, to keep administrative costs where they're at and electrical costs where they're at. We've made a concerted effort to use energy options and things of that nature to help keep costs down."
She also told the council that the amount of debt service on their loan will be approximately $360,000 a year and the rate increase of approximately $12 a customer is to cover that.
"There's no further anticipated rate increases in the near future," Sterns said.