Residents didn’t attend hearing; 2 members ‘had no idea’
East Chicago residents are facing a three-phase, 53% sewer increase to their bills starting in September, but nobody in East Chicago seems to know anything about it.
Not a single resident nor city official showed up for a hearing the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and Office of Utility Consumer Counselor held Tuesday at East Chicago City Hall for residents to speak for or against the proposed increase. After introducing the people on the dais, IURC judge Carol Sparks Drake announced a 10-minute recess to the proceedings in the hopes that maybe people were just running late.
Still, no one showed up.
East Chicago residents have been involved with infrastructure initiatives in the city as well as other environmental events going back decades. From the ongoing dredging of the Indiana Harbor and Shipping Canal to the Environmental Protection Agency’s work in the lead-contaminated West Calumet Housing Complex beginning in earnest in 2016 when Mayor Anthony Copeland sent a letter to residents urging them to leave as soon as possible, residents have packed meetings throughout the city.
The proposed increase would raise residential sewer bills to $26.21 per 5,000 gallons — up from $20.60 currently — in September; then to $30.36 in September 2023 and $31.53 in September 2024.
The increases, according to a petition East Chicago Board of Sanitary Commissioners Attorney Jane Dall Wilson sent the Post-Tribune, would cover “necessary additions, extensions, replacements, and improvements to continue providing reasonable and adequate service to its customers, as well as comply with an existing 2007 agreement with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management” to fix issues with combined sewer overflows that violate the Clean Water Act.
Additionally, the Sanitary Board is proposing to “increase funding
to support the issuance of long-term debt” to pay off outstanding Sanitary District Revenue Bond Application Notes, according to the petition.
“Petitioner’s revenues provided by its current rates are inadequate to meet the cost and expense of operating its present facilities,” the petition reads. “It is now necessary to increase the present rates and charges in order to provide sufficient funding to meet the required financial burden of operating and maintaining the Petitioner’s wastewater treatment system.”
The Tuesday night IURC meeting was held in accordance with state legislation passed in 2020 giving Sanitary Districts in municipalities in counties with populations of more than 400,000 and less than 700,000 “under an order or party to an agreement with one or more state or federal agencies to remediate environmental conditions.” It was advertised in the legal notices of the Indianapolis Star, Post-Tribune and The Times of Northwest Indiana last month, Sparks Drake said.
The East Chicago Sanitary Board approved the petition at its Aug. 5 meeting, “seeking authority for an overall increase not to exceed 40%,” according to the petition.
At least two East Chicago Council members “had no idea” there was a meeting about the rate hike at all Tuesday night and weren’t familiar with the Sanitary Board proposal, said one who asked not to be named. Representatives for the city’s administration didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Common Council President Monica Guzman-Gonzalez, D-1st, who was elected Wednesday night, confirmed that the council wasn’t aware of the rate hike. Although the Sanitary Board acts independently of the Council, she’s frustrated that they never got word of the increase from the city.
“The mayor and the administration have not notified us,” she said. “I’m not sure why they wouldn’t tell us of something so important, but it’s an ongoing problem with (Copeland). It’s sad that we have to find out about a rate hike that’s going to affect thousands of people from a reporter.”
Guzman-Gonzalez said she’s going to talk to the Council about calling a special meeting with Sanitary Board representatives so that they in turn can go to their constituents with the information.
OUCC Spokesman Andrew Swinger said that the office is reviewing the case closely, employing tech experts who’re examining the testimony and analysis. He pointed out, however, that the increase, while steep, is still considerably less than the state average sewer bill of $57.81.
As for no one showing up at the meeting, Wilson said while it’s not unheard of that people don’t attend, it’s not optimal.
“We encourage people to come and express their views, because we really are trying to be transparent for everyone,” she said.
The OUCC office hasn’t received any written remonstrance from residents yet, either, said Deputy OUCC Attorney Dan Le Vay. He encouraged people to remedy that as soon as possible.
“We’re interested in anything the residents have to say on the matter, in any way they can get it to us,” he said. “We’re interested in receiving written correspondence by Feb. 2.”
Residents interested in providing testimony for or against the rate hike are encouraged to contact the OUCC by email by Feb. 2 at uccinfo@oucc.in.gov; on its website at www.in.gov/ oucc/contact-us; or by mail to OUCC Public Comments, 115 W. Washington St., Ste. 1500 South, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The OUCC will present its testimony Feb. 9, rebuttal testimony will be presented March 9, and the IURC will hold an evidentiary hearing March 29.
Barring a settlement, a final order will be issued in July.