Thomson board considers sewer rate hike

Residents of Thomson township are looking at higher sewer rates for the first time in more than 20 years.

Following many discussions about the township’s sewer system’s needs and the cost to maintain the system, township engineer Joe Jurewicz and the Thomson Township board of supervisors informed the public at their May 19 meeting that rates need to be adjusted.

According to Jurewicz, the township last altered sewer rates in 2000, but with the township replacing parts of the system this year, they need to have the funds to be able to maintain it in the future.

Jurewicz informed the board and residents in attendance that with inflation applied to the current rates, residents should be paying around $57 a month instead of $30 a month.

The proposed increase plan would be a three-year “big increase” plan where residents would have a $5 a month increase every year until 2025. Following that, the board would be able to re-evaluate the costs and the needs of the township’s sewer system to make smaller adjustments to the cost.

According to Jurewicz and township attorney David Pritchett, typically townships re-evaluate sewer rates yearly so as to not shock residents with price increases. Using the proposed increase plan would allow residents to ease into the higher price while accounting for the needs of the township, since the price has not been adjusted for so many years.

Pritchett recommended that the board take a look at the township’s ordinance about sewer rates as a whole, instead of simply making an amendment to it with the three-year plan. According to Pritchett, the ordinance has not been altered since 1989. With the board looking to add an amendment, it is a good time to take a look at the entire ordinance as well.

The board, along with Pritchett and Jurewicz, decided to continue the discussion at another public meeting that residents can attend if they were not at the May 19 board meeting, and to provide educational materials on the need for the rate increase.

The public meeting on the need for increased sewer rates will be held Aug. 4. With the proposed plan, sewer rates would be $35 for 2022, $40 for 2023, $45 for 2024, and $50 for 2025.

In other business, the board discussed the location of the street dance for Esko Fun Days. The street dance has been held at the fire station in past years. With a big turnout expected this year, the board is concerned there might not be enough room. Ultimately, the board decided to keep the street dance at the same location for this year and continue to evaluate for future years.

The board is also considering a new permitting software system for township employees that would allow for easier communication between employees and storage of virtual documents. With the software being a large investment for the township, the board decided to make sure that all employees are on board before approving the new system.

The board also passed the planning and zoning commission’s comprehensive plan recommendation and their recommendation for the East River Side Road subdivision final plat. There was little discussion on these recommendations.

The Thomson township board of supervisors meets on the first and third Thursday of the month.