ORDINANCE NO. 1560

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RATES AND CHARGES 

FOR THE SERVICE OF WATER TO THE CUSTOMERS OF 

BLUFFTON UTILITIES WATER DEPARTMENT

WHEREAS, the Common Council (“Council”) of the City of Bluffton (“City”) has authority under the Acts of the Indiana General Assembly to make all necessary regulations for the preservation of the rights, property, health, safety and welfare of its citizens and the Council finds that the interests of the citizens of the City would be best served by amending the rates charged for the service of water to the customers of the Bluffton Utilities Water Department (the “Utility”); and

WHEREAS, the Indiana General Assembly has repealed the utility receipts tax in HEA 1002 and requires municipalities to adjust their rates to account for the removal of this tax; and

WHEREAS, the City has caused an analysis of Public Fire Protection charges to be conducted by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors and the Public Fire Protection rate will be placed on customer water bills; and

WHEREAS, the Utility, a water utility owned by the City, has been previously taken out of the jurisdiction of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission for the approval of rates and charges; and

THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLUFFTON, INDIANA AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1: Title 13, Chapter 8, Section 030 of the Code of Ordinances of Bluffton, Indiana, as in effect on the date of the adoption of this Ordinance, is hereby repealed and replaced and shall after the effective date of this Ordinance read as set forth in Exhibit A attached to this Ordinance and shall be enforced as an ordinance of the City of Bluffton, Indiana.

Section 2: This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force upon adoption and publication as required by law.

Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Bluffton, Indiana, this 2nd day of August 2022, by the following vote:

AYE 5: NAY ABSENT ABSTAIN

Roger Thornton

Rick Elwell

Josh Hunt

Scott Mentzer

Janella Stronczek

Mayor John S. Whicker, Presiding Officer

ATTEST:

Tamara D. Runyon, IAMC, MMC, CPFA

City Clerk-Treasurer

Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of Bluffton, Indiana, at 6:30 o’clock p.m. this 2nd day of August, 2022.

Tamara D. Runyon, IAMC, MMC, CPFA

City Clerk-Treasurer

Approved by me this 2nd day of August, 2022.

Mayor John S. Whicker

Exhibit A

13.08.030 Rates

There shall be and there are hereby established for the use of and the service rendered by Bluffton Utilities Water Department the following rates and charges, based on the use of water supplied by said waterworks system:

Metered Rates Per Month Rates Per 100 cu. ft. (Effective with first

full billing cycle

following adoption)

First 200 cu. ft. over minimum usage allowed $7.72

Next 800 cu. Ft. $5.92

Next 5,000 cu. ft. $4.53

Next 14,000 cu. ft. $3.11

Over 20,000 cu. ft. $2.47

Minimum Monthly Charge

Each user shall pay a minimum monthly charge in accordance with the following applicable size of meter installed, for which the user will be entitled to the quantity of water set out of the above schedule of rates.

Cu. Ft. Minimum Charge

Allowed       per Month

5/8” and 3/4” 200 $15.44

1” 342 $23.85

1 ¼” and 1 ½” 553 $36.34

2” 749 $47.94

3” 1,206 $72.13

4” 1,730 $95.87

6” 2,792 $143.98

Public Fire Protection Per Month

Meter Size

5/8” $5.09

3/4” $ 7.64

1” $12.73

1 ½” $25.47

2” $40.75

3” $76.40

4” $127.33

6” $254.66

Private Fire Protection Per Month

Sprinkling System

1 ½” line $48.06

2” line $63.87

3” line $88.15

4” line $104.19

6” line $168.33

8” line $210.03

10” line $260.31

12” line $374.79

For each hydrant per annum $636.87

Tapping Charges, Collection Fees. Deferred Payment Charges, Bad Check Fees, and Reconnection Charges: Tapping Charges, Collection Fees, Deferred Payment Charges, Bad Check Charges, and Reconnection Fees shall be assessed in accordance with the Bluffton Utilities Schedule of Nonrecurring charges with the exception tapping charges shall be updated as follows.

Tapping Charges

Meter Size:

5/8” & 3/4” $1,500 Single Set, $3,000 Dual Set

Larger than 3/4” Labor & Materials

Meter Split $750

Temporary Users:

Water furnished to temporary users, such as contractors, etc., shall be charged on the basis of the metered cu. ft. rates hereinbefore set forth as estimated and established by the Waterworks Superintendent.

nb 8/6

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