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New fees approved for WMU services

October 06, 2006|Brittany Griffin

New fees will be levied on Winchester Municipal Utilities customers for certain services if the city commission approves the WMU commission's motion from its meeting Thursday night.The increase comes at the same time that WMU is involved in $48 million worth of projects, which WMU General Manager Vernon Azevedo summarized for the commission at its regular September meeting.

"I can't verify it, but I'd say that's an all-time record," he said at the September meeting. "We're at capacity as a staff."

While the increase in projects was not necessarily a reason for additional fees, he said, the staff does need re-cooperative costs for the expensive services, and the projects were used as an example of how thinly staff is already stretched. At the meeting, Azevedo explained that while WMU will answer service calls 24-7, utility companies in Mount Sterling, Versailles and Richmond will not answer after hours. Some people also abuse this service, he said.

For example, they will call about a backed up sewer line when they really should call a plumber.

"It's easier to call us at 12:30 at night and pay $20 than to call a plumber," he said.

Action was deferred on the changes at the September meeting until the commission members could further consider the request. Minor changes were made to the request in a motion made by Commissioner Margaret Seals before it was approved Thursday night.

In the new proposal, after-hours service call fees (11 p.m. - 7 a.m.) will be $75. A water tap fee for a 5/8-inch pipe will be $700; 1-inch water tap fee will be $1,100; 1 and 1/2-inch water tap fees will be $2,000; and 2-inch water tap fees will be $2,250.

In addition to these changes:

Water connection fees, next day service, $20.

Water connection fees, same day, $30.

Service calls and water re-connection after business hours from 3:30-11 p.m., $50.

Leak inspection during buiness hours, $20.

Miscellaneous service calls during business hours, $20.

Temporary sevice disconnection or re-connection during business hours, $20.

Calls about WMU meters that are found functioning properly, $50.

Calls from non-WMU customers, per meter tested, $25 an hour, minimum of two hours.

Extension of time for use of meter (additional 90 days), $30.

Disposal of compactable, non-compactable, CDD, white goods, $12 per cubic yard.

Disposal of shingles, $32 per cubic yard.

Heavy trash pickup for residential customers, $22 for first cubic yard, $12 for each additional cubic yard.

The proposed fee changes will require two separate readings by the city commission before it would take effect, should the commission approve it.

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