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Stacy water, sewer funds in
trouble

By Barbara Brown
Stacyís sewer and water fund is operating in a major deficit and will continue to do so until the rates for water and sewer usage are increased.
The council was given a review of the water and sewer fund revenue and expenses sheet that tallied 2001 and gave totals through the end of July this year.
In 2001, the city received $156,360.95 in revenues from water and sewer usage, penalty late fee charges, connection fees and assessments.
The expenses for 2001 totaled $191,421.67, a deficit of $35,060.65.
So far this year the city has received $90,925.14 while it has spent $133,921.25, a difference of $42,996.11.
The majority of expenses so far in 2002 was spent on engineering and bond payments.
The greatest expense for 2001 was $30,531.93 in engineering services.
Operating transfers, to pay bonds, totaled just more than $65,000 in all of 2001. The amount for 2002 has already reached $62,133.50.
Stacy has been faced with serious water issues several times.
ï Months ago, the city started meeting with engineers about building a second water tower.
Continued from front
State agencies also have ordered Stacy upgrade its wastewater treatment plant to conform to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Department of Natural Resources standards.
The council also is faced with the question of whether to extend sewer and water services past the southern service boundary to accommodate a new development planned for the area south of Royal Concrete on CR30.
Stacy and other cities in southern Chisago County have been investigating a regional wastewater treatment plant that could cut down on long term expenses and spread the cost of upkeep, but the cityís initial share of the construction and engineering costs could top $1 million.
The cityís water and sewer usage fees are low for the area.
North Branch charges its city water users a $5 customer fee and $2.05 per 1,000 gallons with a 3,000 gallon minimum. Sewer customers are charged $3.12 per 1,000 gallons with a 3,000 gallon minimum. The customers are billed every other month for water and every other month for sewer.
The sewer rate in 2001 was $2.76 per 1,000 gallons, but that rate was raised in 2002.
Harris charges residents a $30 fee per quarter for water usage plus $2.60 for each 1,000 gallons they use. The sewer rate in Harris is $21 per quarter.
The council will discuss more about the water and sewer budget and a proposed fiscal 2003 budget on August 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Also at the meeting, the council appointed Barb Cummings, Helen Dahl, Karie Karr, Linda Miller, Diane Ness and Sandra Nienow as election judges.
Nienowís appointment was put on hold until the city determined her relationship, if any with Sean Nienow, a republican running against Sen. Twyla Ring.
One woman who had applied to be a North Branch election judge was not appointed due to her relationship with Ring.

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