Chelsea mayor announces zero increase of sewer rates for Double Oak Water Reclamation customers
Chelsea residents who are customers of Double Oak Water Reclamation will not see an increase in their 2017 rates.
Mayor Tony Picklesimer announced during his Mayor’s Report at the Jan. 3 Chelsea City Council meeting that customers could expect to receive notice regarding the lack of increase sometime in the next week.
“I am happy to report to you that due to operational efficiencies and continued growth in our market, and also the prospective growth that we are experiencing here in our market, there will be a zero increase for 2017 by Double Oak Water Reclamation in either residential fess or in tap fees to our businesses,” Picklesimer said.
Picklesimer met with the principals of Double Oak multiple times, during which he said they discussed concerns of Chelsea citizens related to rate increases over the last few years as well as the increases in tap fees that are passed onto prospective and incoming businesses. Residents previously expressed their concerns regarding the tap fees, with one resident starting a petition that she presented to the Shelby County Commission.
“The cost of sewer rates in Chelsea and some of the surrounding areas has risen from $45 to $81 since 2009,” resident Connie Gilliland read from the petition during the July 25 meeting. “Double Oak Water Reclamation increases rates every year. At this rate, it will be over $100 a month within three years. We need to put a stop to the automatic rate increases.”
The petition, at that time, had received over 400 signatures.
Picklesimer said on Jan. 3 that he was proud to relay the information of the zero increase, and he appreciated Double Oak leaving the sewer rates flat.
Also during his mayor’s report, Picklesimer commended citizens and city staff who assisted a man who went into cardiac arrest at the Chelsea Community Center. Some of the people at the center as well as a staff member performed CPR and used the on-site defibrillator until fire and rescue personnel could get to the scene.
When Chelsea Fire & Rescue arrived, they took the man to Grandview Medical Center.
“Nobody can ever know for sure, but there’s a good chance that if those citizens and that staff member didn’t step up like they did, that that situation would have turned out a whole lot different,” Picklesimer said.
Chelsea Fire & Rescue Chief Wayne Shirley said he is thankful for the city’s support, which has helped put about 20 defibrillators around Chelsea. The fire department also provides free training to the businesses, schools and city buildings which house defibrillators.
“We put in place this program of public access defibrillation several years ago in hopes that we would never need it,” Shirley said. “And for the most part, they’ve been equipment on the wall. …I’m just glad we had the opportunity to have one nearby when it needed to be used.”
Shirley added that they are proud to have citizens willing to step up and help another person.
Also during the meeting, the council:
- Approved a resolution for a retail beer and table wine license for Hallie Riha and Michael Lee at the 51 Country Store. Riha and Lee are the new owners of the store.
- Approved a resolution authorizing Picklesimer to purchase security cameras for Chelsea City Hall. The equipment would cost around $4,952. Another option, costing more than $11,000 was presented, Picklesimer said during precouncil, but the difference in price only related to a difference in memory. The cheaper option will provide 30 days of memory, which Picklesimer said is sufficient.
- Picklesimer said he plans to get three companies to look at rebuilding the infields of Chelsea’s softball fields on Highway 39.
- Approved a resolution to annex in property owned by Michael Morgan along Highway 51. The council previously annexed a large portion of the 18-acre property “half-by-half-by-half,” which is required by law. This was the final portion of the property.
- Approved a resolution to pay the city’s bills.