NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON
PROPOSED RATES AND CHARGES
Property owners, ratepayers and other interested parties in or served or to be served by the waterworks of the City of Bluffton, Indiana (“City”) are hereby notified that an ordinance establishing rates and charges for the waterworks of the City (“Rate Ordinance”), was introduced at a meeting of the Common Council held on September 9, 2025. At a meeting of the Common Council to be held at 5:30 p.m. on October 7, 2025 in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall, 128 E. Market St., Bluffton, Indiana, there will be a public hearing on the matter of the rates and charges and consideration of adoption of the Rate Ordinance which provides as follows:
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of the Code of Ordinances of Bluffton, Indiana, as in effect on the date of the adoption of this Ordinance, is hereby repealed and replaced and shall after the effective date of this Ordinance read as set forth as follows:
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:
Rates Per 100 cu. ft.
Added to Monthly Minimum
Metered Rates Per Month Phase I (1) Phase II (2) Phase III (3) Phase IV (4)
First 200 cu. ft. over minimum usage allowed $8.34 $8.92 $9.54 $10.21
Next 800 cu. ft. 6.39 6.84 7.32 7.83
Next 5,000 cu. ft. 4.89 5.23 5.60 5.99
Next 14,000 cu. ft. 3.36 3.60 3.85 4.12
Over 20,000 cu. ft. 2.67 2.86 3.06 3.27
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.
Per Month
Meter Size Cu. Ft. Phase I (1) Phase II (2) Phase III (3) Phase IV (4)
Allowed
5/8” and 3/4” 200 $16.68 $17.84 $19.08 $20.42
1” 342 25.75 27.55 29.47 31.54
1 ¼” and 1 ½” 553 39.24 41.99 44.92 48.06
2” 749 51.76 55.39 59.27 63.41
3” 1,206 77.87 83.33 89.18 95.40
4” 1,730 103.50 110.74 118.52 126.79
6” 2,792 155.43 166.28 177.99 190.40
Public Fire Protection
Sprinkling System Per Month
Phase I (1) Phase II (2) Phase III (3) Phase IV (4)
5/8” line $5.50 $5.89 $6.30 $6.74
3/4” line 8.25 8.83 9.45 10.11
1” line 13.75 14.71 15.74 16.84
1 1/2” line 27.51 29.44 31.50 33.71
2” line 44.01 47.09 50.39 53.92
3” line 82.51 88.29 94.47 101.08
4” line 137.52 147.15 157.45 168.47
6” line 275.03 294.28 314.88 336.92
Private Fire Protection
Sprinkling System Per Month
Phase I (1) Phase II (2) Phase III (3) Phase IV (4)
1 ½” line $51.90 $55.53 $59.42 $63.58
2” line 68.98 73.81 78.98 84.51
3” line 95.20 101.86 108.99 116.62
4” line 112.53 120.41 128.84 137.86
6” line 181.80 194.53 208.15 222.72
8” line 226.83 242.71 259.70 277.88
10” line 281.13 300.81 321.87 344.40
12” line 404.77 433.10 463.42 495.86
For Each hydrant per annum $687.82 $735.97 787.49 $842.61
(1) Phase I effective upon adoption.
(2) Phase II effective April 1, 2026.
(3) Phase III effective October 1, 2026.
(4) Phase IV effective April 1, 2027.
Non-Recurring Charges:
Nonrecurring charges are per the schedule below.
Security Deposit:
1. Residential 1. $25 with an excellent credit rating from a previous Utility Co. or
2. Small Commercial a credit report obtained by this Utility at the customer’s
3. Large Users (including restaurants) expense, $50 otherwise.
2. The greater of estimated one month’s usage or $150.
3. Amount will be determined by the Board of Works. Estimated
one month’s usage minimum.
Payment Made After Due Date 10% first $3.00 plus 3% excess over $3.00
Bad Checks $35.00
Non-Working Hours Service Calls $40.00 per hour or any portion thereof.
$35.00 minimum each/additional trip.
Non-Payment Reconnects
1. 8 am – 4pm Monday – Friday 1. $40.00 each
2. All other days and hours 2. $60.00 each
24 Hour Inspection Turn-On $25.00
Meter Test
1. 5/8”- 1” meter 1. $35.00
2. 1 ¼” – 2” meter 2. $45.00
3. 3” – 6” meter 3. $300.00 (subject to refund if meter is defective)
Meter Tampering Cost to replace damaged equipment plus prosecution.
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.
At such hearing and prior to final adoption of the Rate Ordinance all interested parties may appear and be heard. A copy of the Rate Ordinance may be examined at the office of the Clerk-Treasurer.
Dated September 25, 2025.
/s/ Bri Lautzenheiser, Clerk-Treasurer
oj, nb 9/25
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