MABS approves 2020-21 budget with rate increase
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE – The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Shenandoah office and treatment plant in Raven Run.
RAVEN RUN – Water customers in the greater Shenandoah Area will see their bill go up by 5% come October, the first rate increase since 2016.
The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Shenandoah approved the rate increase at Thursday evening’s meeting, held at the authority’s offices near Raven Run.
Office Supervisor Jennifer Hepler presented four budget options to the board — to re-institute late fees, to increase rates by 5%, to do both, or to do neither.
“We’re taking a hit with COVID with people not paying their bills and not getting late charges,” Hepler told the board.
“I personally would charge the late fees because people are taking advantage of us,” Hepler added.
“The rate increase is about a nickel a day for the average homeowner, I don’t think that’s out of line,” said John Szczyglak, vice chairman, making a motion to adopt a 5% rate increase with late fees re-instituted.
The budget was approved unanimously. Board member Brian Dillman was absent.
The authority’s fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, so the rate increase will begin Oct. 1.
In other business, the authority is cutting back on hours for part-time office staff.
“We have two part-time employees, one right now works in distribution and their last day is on Friday, and we have one in the office,” Hepler said. “Due to COVID and the low amount of money coming in, we’re going to have to cut back on the office [staff member’s] hours to four hours a day.”
Pietkiewicz motioned to cut the office staff member’s hours to four, and to keep the distribution employee on-call.
In other business, Chief Plant Operator Dan Salvadore addressed litter near the Raven Run dams.
“I did my weekly walk-around the Number Two and Three dams today, and I spotted a lot more litter than normal,” Salvadore said. “What I would like the public to know is, this water authority has purchased eight trail cams and I have them strategically placed in the areas where we think that people are going to be.”
If offenders are spotted, they will be prosecuted, Salvadore said.
In other business, the authority:
- Approved inspections of the authority’s dams by Alfred Benesch and Co. at a cost of $11,300,
- Permitted Hepler to investigate and select an energy company with the lowest rates and best savings,
- Approved a bid from Carbon Filtration Systems to replace media in the four filters and two clean the media in the four clarifiers at the plant at a cost of $219,618.
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