THE CITY REBORN FROM THE ASHES OF AMERICA'S MOST DISASTROUS FOREST FIRE
Peshtigo Sets Flat $35 Rate For Septic Waste
Issue Date: June 16, 2022
After brief discussion at its meeting on Tuesday, June 14, the City of Peshtigo Water and Sewer Committee approved a new rate of $35 per 1,000 gallons for septic wastes hauled to the wastewater treatment plant.
They also approved the CMAR report prepared for the first time by Public Works employees Mark Madden, Rich Sparks and Jason Stibbe without input from a public works director or city engineer, since the position vacated by George Cowell has not yet been filled.
Committee members Fred Meintz and Dan Seymour agreed with Chair Tom Gryzwa when he commented, "This has been a challenge...They haven't done it before...and they did a very good job!"
As to the septic hauling rates, Gryzwa noted the committee has been considering some action this for a couple of weeks, and a consultant had recommended the fixed rate of $35 per 1,000 for all types of septic waste, whether from holding tanks or regular systems, unless they were doing the testing, which they are not.
Sparks asked if they planned to charge anything per load, to cover cost of paper work. Gryzwa said no, the consultant had not recommended that, and it is built into the flat fee. The new rate is to go into effect as soon as it is approved by City Council, which could be at its meeting on Tuesday, July 5, unless an ordinance revision is required, which would take another month.
Seymour suggested they should contact the septic haulers when they know the effective date, so they do not get blind sided by the new prices. It was noted the haulers could be told when they come in, or the new rate could be posted.
Madden reported KLM had been in last week to clean and repair the Maple Street water tower, and they will do the next one in August or September.
Energenics had been consulted in regard to some equipment issues at one of the lift stations. Cost was $2,800 to repair or $5,700 to replace, so they were told to go ahead with the repairs.
An issue at one of the lift stations appeared to have been caused by a muskrat who chewed some wires.
The public works employees are working with Robert E. Lee and contractors on some other repair/upgrade projects connected with water and sewer systems.
After completing other business the committee went into closed executive session to confer with legal counsel who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved. Once again, the sanitary sewer river crossing project was identified as the subject of the closed door portion of the meeting. Present for the closed session in addition to Seymour, Meintz and Gryzwa were Mayor Cathi Malke and City Attorney David Spangenberg.
As Madden, Sparks and Stibbe prepared to leave the room, Gryzwa again complimented their job performance, and thanked them ""¦. for all the work you have done, and all the work you're going to do."