Camp Fire funds help sewer infrastructure?

At the City Council meeting Jan. 17 when Mayor Coolidge asked Public Works Director Gustafson to educate us about Paradise's connection to Chico's sewer system, the mayor said that he thought some folks mistakenly attributed the rate increase of Chico sewage to the Paradise sewer being added. Gustafson responded that there is no connection. That's it. Not how the Paradise sewer is to be connected to Chico and what and how it will affect because of course it will affect something.

Many factors contributed to the infrastructure negligence of our sewer system. It finally had to be resolved when Chico agreed to hook up with Paradise. The Camp Fire emergency must have caused unanticipated sewer problems in Chico too. I still contend the city or county could earmark special funds from PGE, federal, or state to cover at least some of the infrastructure issues that were enhanced due to the Camp Fire. Twenty thousand extra people suddenly using the sewer should have had an effect. New housing developments already in construction, Stonegate, etc., must also affect our sewage system. Without transparency, we can only speculate.

The 60-65% increase in single-resident sewage rates is calculated with a 16% increase in the basic rate and the rest is due to a brand-new usage fee for single-resident homes. Duplexes and multi-family dwellings will have a decrease in basic rates, and many businesses will receive a reduction in their charge per HCF. Consult the chart in the City of Chico mailing “Proposed Changes to Sewer Service Charges.”