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BISBEE — Bisbee residents are once again going to see an increase in their sewer and sanitation bills.
City Finance Director Dee Flanagan reported that to keep up debt payments on the bonds for the new wastewater treatment plant, the council would have to raise sewer rates 8 percent. For the residents, it means a $2.61 hike for sewer and a 48-cent increase for garbage collection.
City Manager Steve Pauken explained that in the original study done for the plant, the consultants based rates on an estimate of 50 new homes per year. The city has seen an increase of only six homes in the past year.
Another factor in the rise in fees is the cost of the operation of the plant. A month’s worth of electricity was $9,159 for the plant, as pointed out by Councilman Ken Budge.
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Flanagan said every January the rate study is “revised and updated to reflect the actual cost of operating the plant.” Any new sewer connections are added in at that time. Her projections indicate that annual increases will continue, but should not exceed 8 percent over the life of the loan.
The increase will provide a total of $1.472 million that goes to pay on the debt.
The city does offer a program for low-income residents that reduces the fees, and Flanagan encouraged residents with low and fixed incomes to call her office.
The 3 percent increase in sanitation fees cover the cost of operations, the county tipping fees and allow some money to go into a special fund that will eventually pay for new trucks as they are needed, she added.
In other business, K.A.Z Construction Inc. was awarded a contract to repair sidewalks and provide handicap access at the intersections and street corners in Old Bisbee. The company submitted a bid of $195,000 to do the work. No date for the start of construction was given.
Warren residents will see a big change in the condition of some streets as the council approved an agreement with Cochise County Highway Department to repair and chip seal Black Knob View, Yuma Trail, Minder, Briggs, Cole and Powell. Bisbee Road, Congdon, Douglas Street, Rupee Street and Old Douglas Road will undergo crack sealing and filling. Some of the roads will require shoulder work before the paving can begin, said Russ McConnell, the city’s public works director.
The roads around the county courthouse in Old Bisbee are included in the repairs, and work will also begin to crack seal Tombstone Canyon. The project will cost $149,597 and will be paid with $50,000 from Highway User Revenue Funds and $100,000 from the general fund.
Police Sgt. Taron Maddux reported on the increase in criminal-damage reports, particularly in the Warren District, and he asked that citizens become more involved with reporting suspicious activity.
There has been a rash recently of vandals throwing rocks through windows, causing extensive damage. Several establishments, including the Bisbee Boys & Girls Club, and residents have had to replace windows.
All total, the damage is estimated at around $30,000, said Georgia Neff, a Warren resident. She and other community members recently met with Bisbee police officers to talk about the problem.
Maddux reported that from July 9 to Aug. 9, 19 of 21 calls were about criminal damage in the Warren District. In a yearlong review he completed, there were 277 calls of criminal damage in the city, with Warren reporting the most. Maddux encouraged home and business owners to invest in security measures, especially lighting to dissuade vandalism.
“It’s hard to prevent criminal damage. There are no witnesses to the crime,” Maddux added.
Councilman Bennie Scott, a former police officer, said, “The public’s got to get involved. You can’t get prints off a rock.”
In other business, the Bisbee City Council on Tuesday:
• Approved the second reading of the ordinance authorizing the sale of 1,542 square feet of city land on OK Street to William and Josephine Carpenter for $7,710.
• Approved a contract with Kenneth R. Pokorski to act as the fixed-base operator at Bisbee Municipal Airport.
• Accepted the appointment of Sean Hicks to serve a two-year term on the Bisbee Arts Commission.
• Approved a special event liquor license application submitted by the Bisbee Arts Commission for the fourth annual Bisbee Blues Festival at City Park on Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Approved the park, facility and right-of-way use permit for City Park to hold the annual Vintage Bisbee Wine and Food Festival on Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Approved a special event liquor license application submitted by the Bisbee Rotary Club for a fundraising event at City Park on Oct. 11, from 3 to 9 p.m.
• Approved a park, facility and right-of-way use permit for the use of Lower Vista Park for a birthday party on Sunday, from 2 to 7 p.m.
HERALD/REVIEW reporter Shar Porier can be reached at 515-4692 or by e-mail at shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.
bisbeejunction wrote on Aug 27, 2008 8:14 PM:
WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO FIX ARIZONA ST. ?
AS FAR AS DAMMAGE GOES, PUNK KIDS WANDERING AROUND AT ALL HOURS ARE THE CAUSE. BY PUNK KIDS THAT INCLUDES ALL THE 25 YEAR OLD, "HIGH SCHOOL KIDS" GET A JOB!
BISBEE!
"OUR ROADS ARE WORSE THAN YOUR'S!" "