By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

Residential sewer customers in Bronson will see their monthly bill in July increase by at least $5.61 as a result of a rate hike approved last year.

The bill for customers using from 0 to 2000 gallons water will rise from $23.10 to $28.71, which is the base rate.

Bills will be higher for customers using above the base rate.
The rate schedule for those using higher amounts of water:
• 2,000 to 5000 gallons above base rate – $6.09 per thousand gallons.
• 5,000 to 10,000 gallons above base rate – $6.39 per thousand gallons.
• 10,000 to 15,000 gallons above base rate – $6.71 per thousand gallons.
• 15,000 gallons and up – 5.93 per thousand gallons.

Council members briefly discussed the rate hike when Interim Clerk Erik Wise placed the issue on the agenda for information purposes.

Councilwoman Beatrice Roberts suggested Wise place a sticker on sewer bills advising customers of the rate increase. Wise said he will add the sticker.

Mayor Bruce Greenlee said the council is gradually raising rates to give customers time to adjust their personal budgets.

The base rate at this time next year will rise to $34.31.

Greenlee said the town borrowed $1.3 million from the United States Department of Agriculture to expand its sewer system, mostly to the downtown business district. The idea behind the expansion was to attract more businesses.

Roberts said the rate increases are aimed at paying back the USDA sewer expansion loan.

LIFT STATION MOTORS

In a related matter, the council approved $3,499 in repairs to the sewer lift station directly in front of the Levy County Health Department and approved the purchase of a new master lift station motor on Stevens Street for $6,734.
Wise expressed his gratitude to the Chiefland and its Sewer Superintendent Randy Wilkerson for loaning Bronson a temporary pump on short notice for the malfunctioning Stevens Street pump.
The council will send a letter to the City of Chiefland expressing its gratitude for the emergency gesture of goodwill.

ACTION IN EDMONDSON

On an unrelated matter, the council learned that former Councilman Aaron Edmondson hasn’t begun paying back the health insurance premiums he received from the town at no charge.
Town Attorney Steven Warm said he would take action in the matter. The former council member owes the town $5,000 for the health insurance premiums that the town paid on his behalf when he sat on the council.
Warm said he had been willing to allow Edmondson to repay the money through a gentleman’s agreement, with the understanding that if the former Edmondson failed to live up to his obligations the town would take legal action.
“I will pursue that,” Warm said.
In a previous meeting, the town’s auditor said the money needs to be repaid.

NO CLERK YET

Wise’s real job is public works director for Bronson but he and Parks and Recreation Director Curtis Stacy have had to fill the gap left by the departure of former Town Clerk Pam Whitehead.

The town had no minutes from previous meetings to approve Monday night without a town clerk on board. Wise said he would arrange for the council to get those minutes.

Whitehead left on short notice just as the town’s budget process was to begin, a difficult time of year even with an experienced clerk. Former Deputy Clerk Susie Robinson left a month before Whitehead but will help put out the payroll in Whitehead’s absence.

Erik Wise and Stacy are doing everything else in the absence of any regular administrators.

The town has advertised for a new clerk. Three applications have been filed. The first applicant was Town Councilwoman Katie Parks.

Applications are due by June 30.

Town of Bronson Regular Meeting June 18, 2018
Posted June 18, 2018