AKRON TO GIVE "BREAK" ON SEWER RATES - You won't get any!

Needy may get break from Akron on sewer costs
City plans to explore ways to subsidize bills for some residents who have fixed incomes

By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer

POSTED: 10:40 p.m. EST, Nov 09, 2009

Akron will consider giving some low-income residents a break on sewer bills that are expected to double or triple to pay for improvements to the city's sewer system, Mayor Don Plusquellic said today.

The city will look into whether residents with fixed incomes, such as those on Social Security, should be charged less, the mayor said. The problem would be how these residents' bills would be subsidized, he said.

''I'm willing to look at alternatives to across-the-board increases,'' Plusquellic said during Akron City Council's Public Utilities Committee meeting today.''But, somebody has to pay for it.''

Both the committee and council approved a tentative agreement today with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on a decades-long sewer dispute.

Bruce Kilby was the only councilman to vote against the agreement. He said he thought the council needed more time to discuss how the project will be paid for and how to protect the city's poorest residents. He suggested assessing residents based on the square frontage of their property, rather than raising sewer rates.

''We need to talk about a solution before we enter into an agreement,'' said Kilby, who made a motion to delay the vote for a week, which died for lack of a second.

Councilwoman Terry Albanese said a property owner's square footage isn't necessarily an indication of their wealth.

''That doesn't seem to be a fair approach,'' she said.

The agreement, which calls for sewer system renovations to be completed over 19 years, is expected to end a lawsuit over Akron's sewer system overflows that pollute local waterways, including the Cuyahoga and Little Cuyahoga rivers and the Ohio & Erie Canal.

Doubled or tripled rates

The improvements are projected to cost at least $500 million and result in sewer rates doubling or tripling. The council is expected to approve the first rate increase next month, which would begin Jan. 1.

They sure are quick to raise the rates - hope all that money makes it to the sewer project!~

So the middle class working homeowners will take the brunt. Back to the USSA.

akron plans to OVERCHARGE on sewer rates!

It's plain to see....the Deal is Done!

I suggest a per flush fee. Hence lowIncome and elderly people can regulate their bills by flushing less. A Helpfull hint is to take a bath and then use the bath water as a toliet flush. Those bathing with DawnDetergent may also consider a dishesAndBath ensemble.

Bob wrote:

I suggest a per flush fee. Hence lowIncome and elderly people can regulate their bills by flushing less. A Helpfull hint is to take a bath and then use the bath water as a toliet flush. Those bathing with DawnDetergent may also consider a dishesAndBath ensemble.

You're actually not far off. Because your sewer bill is calculated based in large part upon your water use, the less water you use the smaller your sewer bill. If you just follow the examples of others and stick to scotch, just think of the money you can save!

woof

"Saving" money in crakron isn't really possible when the "mayor" caves in to the EPA!

I tried that dishes and bath ensemble and my dishes came out squeeky clean and my skin was soft as a babies bottom. I would advise all housewives to get the DawnLilac with greasecutter. No Grease and you smell like a Lilac.