Resident dissatisfied with sewer rates

Ed Gallagher of Columbus
To the editor:
    At the Dec. 12 meeting of the Mansfield Township Committee, the first agenda item was discussion of Resolution 2007-12-2, a “Resolution to establish sewer rates for the Township of Mansfield Sewer Authority.” All the residents of Lynwood Farms should have been notified of the meeting by both regular mail and registered letter. In case you were unable to attend, here is one person’s view of what happened.
   The meeting began with an explanation from township officials of the resolution and its impact. They made it clear that they were not asking the committee to vote on the resolution, but wanted them to wait until the meeting of Dec. 27 so they could answer questions and gain public input.
   In brief, the tesolution would mandate a fixed fee of $50 per quarter for everyone hooked up to the sewer system. In addition, each household would be charged $10.96 for each 1,000 gallons of water discharged into the sewer system. The township officials estimated that each household would consume 200 gallons per day on average.
   Our annual total cost would be: $200 in fixed fees plus $800.08 in per-1,000-gallon usage charges. It all equals $1,000.08 per year per Lynwood Farms household.
   How does this compare with what others pay? In Ocean Township in Ocean County (Waretown), the sewer rates were increased as of Oct. 1, 2007. The new rates there are fixed fees of $40 per quarter and usage fees of $3.59 per 1,000 gallons. Using the same estimate of 200 gallons per day, residents of Ocean Township will pay a total of $422.07 for the same sewer service that will cost us $1,000. That’s almost 58 percent less.
   When asked why the Ocean Township rates are almost 58 percent lower, the township officials said it was because Ocean Township operates its own sewer plant and does not depend on a private firm as we must and that the Board of Public Utilities is involved in rate determination.
   The question was raised about what residents of Country Walk and Homestead were being charged for sewer service since we are all citizens of Mansfield and we all use the same sewer treatment plant operated by the same company. One township official said he lives in Country Walk and pays $750 per year in sewer charges. He was asked for the breakdown between fixed fees and per 1,000 gallon usage charges, but said he didn’t know.
   No answer was ever given for what the people in Homestead pay.
   Why should Lynwood Farms residents be charged $250 more than Country Walk residents for exactly the same service? The township attorney offered that their charges were controlled by a court case and would gradually increase. It was also explained that the operating company likes to charge fixed fees and is working toward that goal.
   Those really aren’t answers as to why we should be receiving disparate treatment at the hands of both the township and the sewer company.
   A committee member noted that we couldn’t “shop” for a sewer provider and were stuck with the current operator. He said, in effect, that we had no ability to negotiate lower rates.
   How can our rate be negotiated when the township clearly doesn’t know what’s being charged for the same services at the same plant, by the same company?
   Does anyone believe the sewer plant company is operating at a loss dealing with Country Walk and Homestead? Does anyone believe residents of Lynwood Farms should be forced to subsidize the rates being paid by residents of those developments? Does anyone believe residents of Lynwood Farms should be forced to subsidize the “Township of Mansfield Sewer Utility?”
   Water meters are expected to be installed between now and February, and no charges will be levied until the meters are connected. It will be the homeowners’ responsibility and expense to make sure only water finally entering the sewer system is metered.
   The connection fee waiver that was extended is expected to expire by the first of the new year. The resolution calls for connection fee charges of $1,000 after expiration of the waiver period.
   What’s to be done? First, make sure the members of Township Committee know how you feel about the rates being contemplated. Second, plan to attend the Dec. 27 Township Committee meeting where the rate resolution is scheduled for a vote. Call or e-mail them to make your concerns known.
    Ed Gallagher
    Columbus