He also said the city will move to narrow Washington and Jefferson boulevards downtown.It cost Fort Wayne City Utilities customers a little more to flush the toilet Thursday.
Sewer rates jumped 15 percent as part of the city’s five-year rate increase to help finance its federally mandated $240 million sewer project.
The 18-year project will reduce the amount of raw sewage that flows into area rivers during heavy rains.
The newest rate increase will force average residential customers – those who use 5,000 gallons of water a month – to pay $3.48 more each month.
Depending on their billing cycle, some customers could see part of this rate increase on their July bills, but the full effect won’t be seen until August.
Utility spokesman Frank Suarez said the city’s project has already kept more than 1 billion gallons of polluted water from reaching the rivers. He said the city’s rates also remain competitive with those in other communities, many of which face similar federal requirements.
In May 2009, the City Council approved a plan to incrementally raise sewer rates 86 percent through 2013. The annual increases do not require additional council approval.
