The water rate increase for Soldier Water and Sewer System customers in Winslow Township delayed by a month
The Winslow Township Supervisors met in regular session on May 8 and delayed action on an ordinance raising the water rates for the Soldier Water and Sewer System.
Township residents Sherry Carney and Francis Rosana attended the meeting and asked a number of questions about the history of the system and the current problems it’s facing. They also pointed out that many Soldier residents were not aware of the proposal.
Supervisor Robert Krajewski said that when the system was built around 2010, copper pipes were used. Because of the acidic aspects of the soil in areas of the old Soldier Coal Mines, those copper pipes have been leaking for the past several years and have to be replaced. That has increased the monthly costs of the system to the point where it’s not self-sustainable as it once was. In one recent situation, one copper pipe that was replaced had 16 holes in it he said.
“It’s a sad situation,” Krajewski said. “It’s terrible.” He added that there was no action that could be taken against those who designed the system since it’s been too long.
The ordinance will raise the water rates by $20.00 a month setting the minimum monthly amount at $77 for 4,000 gallons with the same $8.00 per month fee for every 1,000 gallons over the 4,000.
The ordinance keeps the minimum monthly rate for sewer at $43.00 for 4,000 gallons, but it added an $8.00 monthly fee for every 1,000 gallons over that amount, which Francis Rosana questioned.
“I don’t think it’s fair to add eight on the water and an extra eight on the sewage because I used a thousand gallons of water that went down my driveway or in my garden. I don’t think that’s fair,” he said.
The supervisors agreed and voted to drop that fee from the ordinance. Because of that change, the ordinance will now be voted on at the June 12 meeting. (To read the ordinance, click on the link below.)
In other action, the supervisors approved a subdivision request for land above Reynlow Park and approved the employee insurance package but discussed researching a less expensive plan for next year.
