Thibodaux sewage rates to rise

Thibodaux residents will see an increase in their water bills at the start of 2013, and revenue generated by the increase will help to fund the new sewer plant on the city’s north side.

“It is not easy to ask citizens for money, but I don’t want to kick the can down the road,” said Mayor Tommy Eschete. “There are no alternatives.”

According to Eschete, the city’s aging sewage system is already under duress, and an additional plant is needed, especially if development in north Thibodaux and along Canal Boulevard is to continue. The rate increase will pay back a 20-year financing plan with 0.95 interest rate administered through the state Department of Environmental Quality.

“We knew we would have to take out a loan for this,” Eschete said. “The sewer fund has been operating in the red since 2002.”

The mayor prefaced the city council’s vote to increase the rates with a presentation on the increase’s pros and cons.

Over the next three years, citizens will see the rates go from $2.26 per 1,000 gallons used to $2.73 per 1,000 gallons in 2013. In 2014, the cost will rise to $3.05 per 1,000 gallons and, in 2015, will go to $3.27 per 1,000 gallons for a total increase of $1.09 from the current rate. Eschete said the average family uses 7,000 gallons of water in a month and, with this estimate, the average family will pay $7.07 more for water by 2015.

In addition to funding the new plant, some of the revenue generated will be used to dredge the current treatment plant lagoon, which has not been dredged since it was built in 1987. About $240,000 will go to flow monitoring and smoke tests to locate any other trouble areas within the system, and $124,000 will cover the cost of manhole inspections. An additional $285,000 will go toward videoing the city’s water mains, an inspection that has not been done since 2001. The money will also help to meet current needs within the in-the-red sewer fund.

“This benefits all citizens,” Ecshete said as he moved on to his presentation’s next slide, which outlined the large amounts of sales and property taxes generated by the north Thibodaux area.

Eschete also notted that the new wastewater treatment facility would lead to a nearly one-fourth reduction at the city’s Southern Distribution System and Treatment Plant and lower the plant’s operation and maintenance costs. The new plant would also help the city to avoid DEQ violations and provide for future sewer system development in the city.

Following the mayor’s presentation, Council Chairman Chad Mire called for public comments and, after no one from the 40-member crowd stepped up to speak, Mire opened the issue to council discussion.

“I have received 39 e-mails from people who want me to vote ‘no’ to this,” said Councilman Lloyd “Chip” Badeaux. “Some suggested alternate funding options, and others didn’t want anything done about the problem.”

“What about using the retained earnings in the water funds to repair the system,” said Councilman Eugene Richard. “We will stop losing money on the sewage systems if we make repairs. Or what about a 30-year loan from DEQ?”

“DEQ does not offer 30-year loans,” Eschete said. “I also don’t want to rob Peter to pay Paul from the water funds.”

Richard, Mire and Councilman Eddie Hebert voted in favor of each individual increase. Councilwoman Constance Johnson voted in favor of all of the increases except the 2015 increase, and Badeaux did not vote in favor of any of the increases.

“I am councilman of District A, and there has been so much development in that area,” Hebert said. “I’m glad to see this go through.”