Rathdrum sewer fee hike proposed

RATHDRUM - The Rathdrum City Council will hold a public hearing tonight at 6 on a proposed sewer rate increase of 7.5 percent.

If approved, the proposal would increase the residential base rate from $45.50 per month to $48.80.

City Administrator Brett Boyer said the increase is a "pass through" to Post Falls, which treats Rathdrum's wastewater.

"The proposed increase is to cover the increased cost of sewer treatment facilities due to the new requirements put on Post Falls for the treatment of wastewater," Boyer said.

Rathdrum is not increasing its collection portion of the sewer bill. The Post Falls portion for treatment is proposed to increase 14.5 percent.

The sewer capitalization fee is proposed to increase from $4,021 to $4,149.27 per unit.

The increase is another pass-through charge to Post Falls as discharge permit standards requiring updated facilities, Boyer said.

In other business, the council will consider a proposal by the Gem Committee to help fund an effort to bring back a Veterans of Foreign Wars group in Rathdrum after the previous group disbanded several years ago. The estimated total amount needed for a group to start up is $1,000 to $1,600.

"The city is considering offering startup money of around $1,000 to help get the group going," Boyer said. "If the council decides to offer some startup money, it would be contingent on a group being ready to form the group."

Information on the idea of starting a sister city relationship with Rathdrum, Ireland, will be presented. Council member Mark Worthen earlier asked staff to gather information on the nonprofit Sister Cities International program. The fee per year is $250.

The focus of the program is to advance peace and prosperity through cultural, educational, humanitarian and economic development exchanges.