Alachua fixes mistake with utility rate increases

• Santa Fe softball – World Series Champions recognized
• Attorney contract extended

 After lengthy discussion among City of Alachua commissioners and residents Monday night, the Commission voted to increase the city’s water and wastewater rates.  The new rates are the same rates that took effect in April earlier this year, but due to a public notice error, those rates were deemed void.  The city has since adjusted customer accounts to reflect the voided rates.  Monday night, by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Robert Wilford dissenting, the rates were officially adjusted and will take effect in the first bills in September.

Wilford explained he did not feel the process was done as it should have been to raise the rates, and although he voted for the increase at the first hearing on Aug. 9, he did not support the increase at the final hearing.

“I certainly already said I was for the increase,” said Wilford.  “I disagree with the process.  I believe we could have waited another month to do this.

“I think we could have prorated the rates over three or four months and for that reason, I vote no,” Wilford said as he cast the only dissenting vote. 

Apparently referring to Wilford’s dissenting vote, Commissioner Ben Boukari, Jr. said turning down the increases would be fiscally irresponsible.

“It’s very easy to say ‘no’ on an issue like this,” Boukari said.  “It’s also irresponsible, in my opinion.  It’s not right for this community going forward.  It’s doing what has continued to be done in the past…I’m going to do what’s right for the taxpayers and for the future,” Boukari said.

The city had not raised its rates for these services since 1994 and tapping into savings or borrowing from the Electric Fund appear to no longer be an option.  City of Alachua Public Services Director Mike New stated that if the rates were not adjusted, the city would likely have a drop in the level of service and have no capital funds on hand if a major repair arose.

Longtime Alachua resident Thelma Hammond told the Commission she has a separate meter for irrigation, but even that is costing her too much for water.

“I blew up the last two months when I got my water bill,” Hammond said. 

Under the new water rates, Hammond said she received a nearly $200 bill for water usage over a period of two months.

Hammond has an irrigation meter, which is intended to reduce the cost of outside watering because she doesn’t pay for wastewater on any water running through that meter.  That’s a feature she initially paid $400 for in hopes of recovering the cost in reduced water fees.

“I catch rainwater.  I use rainwater.  I’m a very conservative person.

“I do want my flowers. I don’t do much watering of the grass, but I do water my flowers because I love my flowers.

“I just can’t afford it, so I’ll just have [my irrigation meter] cut off,” Hammond said. 

The city appears to be seeing a savings this year in its legal expenses.  According to a report provided to the Commission, general legal expenses from City Attorney Marian Rush of the law firm Rush & Glassman have dropped from an average of $24,000 per month in 2008 to $10,000 per month in 2010.  The report also stated that the cost for an in-house legal department would cost the city $166,000 per year.  This would be for general legal services and would not necessarily include litigation services or the cost to set up the in-house department such as computers and desks.  Also, the $166,000 per year does not include operating expenses such as training, travel, memberships or office supplies.

The current contract with Rush expires at the end of September.  Rush explained that the higher costs associated with general services for previous years was related to reviewing major projects and bringing the city up to speed on statutory provisions.  The contract presented to the Commission Monday night provided for a $10,000 monthly retainer fee for all general services.  These services include attending meetings, ordinance review, contract negotiations and review and responding to staff inquiries.  Rush also reduced her hourly rate for services outside of the retainer scope from $185 per hour to $175 per hour.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to renew the contract with Rush & Glassman for a term of two years, citing the decrease in expenses from Rush and the higher costs associated with having an in-house attorney.  Wilford was the dissenting vote, stating he wanted to have more time to perform his own research on the costs for a fulltime city attorney.

The City Commission also recognized the Santa Fe Babe Ruth 12-Under softball team for their recent success in the Babe Ruth Softball World Series.  The team won the world series, going undefeated throughout the more than week-long event.  The commission chambers were packed with family and friends, commemorating the occasion.  The team received a standing ovation for their performance and a video highlighting their experience was shown to the audience.

Along with comments from other commissioners, Mayor Gib Coerper told the team he was proud of their success.

Coerper, who attended nearly every Santa Fe game in the series said, “I was worn out by the time the week was over.

“It is not only a special time for the whole north Florida area, but for our communities in the Alachua and High Springs area.

“I know that these memories that were made are going to last you for a lifetime and I want to say congratulations,” Coerper said.