DPW Seeks More Revenue
By Karen Gould

Preliminary six-year financial projections that the Department of Public Works (DPW) considers draft numbers show that the rate increase enacted earlier this year and additional increases approved for the next two years may not be sufficient to cover the department’s operating costs. The Board of Public Works now is exploring ways to increase revenue to keep the department out of the red and may ask City Council for upward adjustments.

In May, Island residents saw a 50 percent increase in rates with an additional 50 percent increase planned for next year and a 25 percent increase for 2007. In May 2006, water rates will increase to $2.81 per 1,000 gallons and sewer will rise to $5.06, and in 2007, water will increase to $3.52 and sewer will go up to $6.33 per 1,000 gallons.

The department has three ways to generate revenue: commodity rates, readiness to serve charges, and taxes. Currently, no component of the DPW revenues come from taxes, but the department now is considering soliciting from the City Council such to bolster its bottom line.

The Department also will raise the connection fees for new customers to $5,356 from $5,225.

Additionally, the board has decided not to replace water filtration membranes at the water treatment plant, even though they have exceeded their guaranteed life expectancy, and instead will make plant improvements. DPW Director Bruce Zimmerman said the membranes in use at the plant have been in place seven years, but that other plants around the country have used them for nine years without replacement.

The DPW will perform necessary maintenance and mechanical improvements now and look at membrane replacement next year.

The Board, meeting September 28, agreed to store construction debris in one of the composting bays at the solid waste transfer station to get the material off the ground and will be sending a letter to landfill users seeking notification of planned construction projects.

The issue of construction waste storage began in July when Mr. Zimmerman told the board the city practice of storing the materials directly on the ground is illegal. Compounding the problem is the inability to ship the debris to a mainland landfill in the winter, when freight boats are not operating.

The letter asking about construction projects is an attempt to minimize the amount of debris by removing it from the Island before the boats stop running.

The bay used to store material over the winter is 40-feet by 50-feet and has the capacity equal to about 75 dumpsters.

The DPW will make a proposal to Larry Berke to provide water to his cottage, that will include chiseling a shallow water service line along an existing easement to his home.

The cooperative funding project between Mr. Berke and the DPW will provide a private water line for the Berke cottage, which has been sharing a line running from the Annex.

Board members also discussed wages and a retirement plan for DPW workers. They will look at communities of similar size to see how Island wages compare. They also are exploring options of establishing a 401K retirement plan for workers.

The DPW board members include Chairman R.D. Musser Jr., Ron Dufina, Barry BeDour, Victor Callewaert, and Jim Pettit.

The next DPW meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, October 14, at City Hall.