Another Resident Voices Concerns About Fee Increases

Mayor and City Council members,

My wife and I have been living in Shorewood for more than 30 years. Over the winter of 2006/2007, storm sewer and water were put in place in addition to widening and the straightening of Wedgewood Drive, Mallard, and Teal. Despite complaints from the residents, all the single resident homes, plus the 22 rental units were assessed for the water. Single family homes like ours were assessed $10,000 dollars over a period of time, added to our property taxes. I do not know how the rentals were assessed.

When Glen Road and Amlee, Strawberry Lane, and Birch Bluff recently had water installed, there were no assessments. That violates the city’s own laws.

“The failure of city councils to follow the existing city law (ordinance §903.18) has contributed significantly to the financial deficit in the Water Enterprise Fund.”

This may seem confusing to many but the ordinance was written clearly and in simple terms. The city’s poor planning, not following their own assessment process, and just plain fiscal irresponsibility has put them in a very poor financial position. In my opinion, the city should go back and assess those projects per the city’s own law.

I am absolutely against the city charging me any additional amount of money because we opted to continue using our well and did not hook up to city water. I don’t feel I should have to pay for goods or services I do not receive. We’ve already paid the city $10,000 for the water install. There really is no incentive for me to hook up to city water. It would be a huge cost at little, or no benefit to me. I am also against the city charging a fee to those who have no option to hook up to city water.

The other fee increases, in my opinion, are just plain out of line. These increases are over and above any cost-of-living increases or inflation numbers.⁽¹⁾

• Sanitary Sewer Service increases from $142.25 to $184.93 per quarter. 30% INCREASE.
• Water connection permits increase from $60 to $150. 150% INCREASE
• Storm water Management Basic rate from $43.49 to $69.58 per quarter. 60% INCREASE, plus the recycling increase.

That would be $102.28/quarter or $409.12/year for my wife and me. It certainly makes it more difficult for those of us who are retired and living on fixed incomes.

I really feel the city needs to reevaluate these fee adjustments. The city really has not been very transparent regarding the details of this budgeting. In my opinion, if the mayor and council approve these fees, when they go into effect, the citizens of Shorewood will be the victims of poor decision making by the mayor and the city council.

⁽¹⁾Source: Proposed Ordinance Amendment