A 45% WASTEWATER HIKE could be in place by next Monday, December 28th . Rates would increase 15% per year for the next 3 years for a total of 45%. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. According to a Knox Pages story posted December 15, 2020, the legislation “calls for FUTURE INCREASES TO BE AUTOMATIC (emphasis added), with council reviewing the rates at least every three years.” This provision fundamentally changes how rates have been increased in the past and OPENS THE DOOR TO RATE INCREASES IN PERPETUITY (FOREVER). Currently, in order to implement an increase, city council must intentionally choose to raise rates and then undertake the process of enacting legislation, presumably with the opportunity for public comment and input. By making future increases “automatic”, i.e. easier, council is absolved of its responsibility to the people, the public is bypassed and their voices silenced. Is such a concern overstated or unwarranted? According to the Knox Pages post, after the 45% increase has been implemented, the CITY’S UTILITIES COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED A 10% ANNUAL INCREASE FOR THE NEXT 7 YEARS, THROUGH 2030. If that happens, the wastewater rates would be increased by 115%, more than double the current rate. Just 3 years ago, in 2017, the wastewater rate was increased by 42%. Combined with that increase, the total rate hike is one hundred and fifty-seven percent (157%). What does that mean in real dollars? Prior to the 2017 increase, the water rate was $13.80 per month, or $165.60 per year. Under the proposed legislation with recommended rate hikes through 2030, the new annual rate will be $505.68 per year. It is shocking how seemingly small and arguably harmless increases of just $2.96-$3.88 per month through 2023 (Knox Pages, 12/15/20) become real dollars with real consequences for the typical family that will have to pay the increase. After 2030, who knows how much those “automatic” increases will be, and that is just wastewater. According to Knox Pages, when questioned about water rates, (Safety Service Director) Dzik said the city will do an assessment of water fees next year similar to the assessment of wastewater rates the city did this year. Citizens of Mount Vernon, break out your wallets because, if history repeats itself, you ain’t seen nothin yet.
A building/zoning permit was granted in January 2020 for an E. Chestnut St. R-1 property to add a new garage that was seriously over-sized and non-compliant based on the Code restriction. How does the City Code that restricts the size of this garage to 24’ x 17’ turn into an approval for a size of 24’ x 40’????
The purpose of the City of Mount Vernon Zoning Regulations is to:
(a) Promote and uphold the public health, safety, general welfare and morals of the City through the regulation of the use of land and of the type, size and use of structures.
(b) Ensure and encourage the proper use of land to stabilize and preserve property values, to protect against congested and unsafe traffic conditions, to provide safety from hazards such as fire, flood, water and air contamination, and to guarantee adequate light, air, and open space to all residents of the City.
(c) Facilitate development of land uses according to a comprehensive design that ensures the availability of and provision for adequate traffic capacity, water and sewer service, schools, public parklands and other such public facilities.
(d) Preserve unique historical and natural features of structures and land within the City.
The following recent response from Brian Ball partially answers some of the questions dating back to my February 2, 2020 request for answers about traffic safety issues in residential areas around Mt Vernon. However, his response opened up even more question regarding his decision to table many of these same issues that we have been asking for answers on for three years.