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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10Thi Connection City of Chubbuck Newsletter Vol. I Issue 8 October 2006 Message from the Mayor: In reviewing previous newsletters, it seems I have frequently started by mentioning the weather. It is one thing we all have in common, and it does direct our lives in many ways. Everything, from which clothes we choose to wear to how we schedule our activities, is often affected by the weather. Consequently, I am sure I will continue to regularly comment on the weather and related topics. Our "Indian Summer" weather is probably my favorite, with its vivid colors, cool nights and warm days. Those who planted gardens are enjoying the "fruit of their labors" and, in many instances, sharing with their neighbors. It is a great time of year. I do want to comment on our utility rates. As I am sure you noticed, the approved increases in water and sewer rates were reflected, starting with last month's billing cycle. Even though we went through advertised public hearings and reports of our meetings in the media, some were unaware that the rates were being adjusted. Public Works has prepared additional in- formation, included in this issue, to explain some of the reasoning behind the changes. The decision was made to move to the needed levels now and then, with regular review, so that any future adjustments would not have this impact. We are going to look at the possibility of providing some additional relief to those whose situation qualifies them for the property tax circuit breaker classification. We appreciate your understanding and support and pledge our best effort in providing the most efficient and courteous service possible. We hope the material that these newsletters provide is informative and useful. If you have suggestions for items that we could consider including, please contact us. The phone number is 237-2400, or try visiting our website at www.cityofchubbuck.us. Thanks for helping make Chubbuck'such a Good place to live and do business. SOLD wales: In many new residen- tial areas, swales have been con- structed alongside the roadway within the street right-of-way. These swales are an important part of the city's stormwater run- off management. The city has never had a storm sewer system draining to a river. We have always relied on under- ground seepage to remove run- off. Since stormwater runoff carries contaminants with it, en- vironmental regulations now re- quire removal of as much of the contaminant load as possible. In residential areas, we have de- signed the swales to perform that function. Swales are required to be one foot deep with turf. Trees are acceptable. We have also ac - Mayor England cepted some swales filled with drain rock, provided it is actually dug deeper, and more rock is needed in a size large enough to provide gaps to store the runoff water. Once developments are complete and landscaping established, stormwater runoff into the swales is minimized. If you have any question regarding the swales and their construction, please feel free to contact us. FIRE PREVENTION WEEK malumm mooffiu IoM lfl�ffnu The Great Chicago Fire took place in October of 1871. The National Fire Protection Associa- tion (NFPA) uses this anniversary each October to promote fire safety through Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week is October 8th through 14th, and this year it focuses on preventing kitchen fires. Most home fires start in the kitchen with unat- tended cooking. The NFPA provides the following safety tips in its brochure: • Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food. • If you must leave the room even for a short period of time, turn off the stove. • When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to re- mind you. • When you are finished cook- ing, turn off all burners and ovens. Also: • Never use an extension cord for a microwave, and only use microwave -safe containers. If you have a fire, turn it off and keep the door closed. • Smother grease fires by slid- ing a lid over the pan and leaving it until completely cool. Never pour water on a grease fire. • If you have young children, use the stove's back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away. • Keep pot holders, towels and packaging away from your stovetop and keep it clean from food and grease. • Know how to use your fire extinguisher before a fire oc- curs. aw The hockey rink in Capell Park is ready for use! They will be scheduling games on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, until the weather makes play impossible. If you are • °�• interested in trying it out, the Chubbuck- � Pocatello Hockey Association is willing to make some equipment available for use by the public on those evenings. We invite you to come and watch the hockey players or even try your hand at it. You can get addi- tional information by calling Jim DiSanza at 244-1367. Water & Sewer Fees You are well aware that we have increased the water and sewer utility fees sig- nificantly. Water fees have not been adjusted since 1998, and sewer fees have not been adjusted since 2001. The fee increases were necessary to maintain the fiscal viability of our en- terprise funds. Water, sewer and sanitation funds are all self-supporting funds. They are not under- written by general tax lev- ies, nor do they underwrite the city revenues received from general tax levies. The increase this year was in- tended to strike a balance between our fixed costs and those related to the volume of the commodity. Fixed costs, those not 'related to the volume of water sold or the volume of sewage efflu- ent generated, comprise most of the expenses in both our water and sewer funds. We thank you very much for your support in helping us keep our water .and sewer systems strong and viable. There are some citizens in the city who qualify, by their income levels, for a "circuit breaker" tax break. Contact Bannock County Assessor's office at 236-7260 to see if you qualify. The city provides a reduction in utility rates for these same individuals.