With bills, some South Haven residents receive a case of sticker shock

Utility bills are giving South Haven residents a case of sticker shock, according to city council members.  The council at a special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 23, discussed complaints about high billings that now include paying for use of the city’s new wastewater treatment system.  Council members also approved applying for a loan for a new water well, which could raise utility rates even higher, and decided not to act on a salary raise for themselves.  The city set sewer and water rates in July as homeowners began to connect to South Haven’s $2.35 million wastewater treatment plant and switch from a quarterly flat rate for water to a metered system billed monthly.  The residential sewer rate was set at a $20 base fee monthly to pay off a $500,000 loan plus $6.50 per 1,000 gallons of water used.   The city skipped sewer fees on the August bill, but everyone was charged for it on the September bill.  City administrator Carol Banken said she received numerous complaints and council member Marilyn Gordon told of others.  Council member Tony Stanley said even his wife suffered sticker shock when she opened the bill.  Some bills came in as high as $200, but Banken said the average was about $55 or $56 for billings that included water, garbage and recycling.  Gordon said a few bills were “outrageously high” and one caller asked why South Haven rates are so much higher than other towns.  Council member Sandy Swanson suggested most of the high end bills involve people who water their lawns or have a garden.  Banken said South Haven rates aren’t higher than other places and she’s explained to people that the sewer charge, which they didn’t have before, is making their bills higher.  Swanson said the city has no way of gauging how much water is being used on lawns and gardens rather than going into the sewer system because meters weren’t installed in time to take readings during the winter months.  It’s all going on the bill now, but once the city has a record of winter readings it can lessen the rates, she said.  Council member Sue Thwing said people can buy a separate meter for under $100 to keep track of lawn or garden watering.  Banken suggested charging only $1.20 per thousand gallons after the first thousand and making up the difference with liquor store revenues until winter readings are obtained.  Water-wastewater operator Dan Dawson said the city can’t afford to subsidize the rates and even $6.50 per thousand is too low.