The Sutter Creek City Council held a public hearing Monday night, during the first snowstorm of the season, on the sewer rate increases. As a result, the audience was small and the comments few. Unfortunately, the rate increase is huge for Sutter Creek residents - 45 percent by 2011. Residents questioned the need for the increases due to the fact that the sewer maintenance funds pay city administrative salaries, including Rob Duke, Sean Rabe and several city staff. Could that explain the deficit in the sewer account?
When questioned about the impact of the Gold Rush project on the sewer rate increases, Rob Duke explained that, without development, the city could make the necessary improvements to the sewer system over time without a rate increase. Why are we paying for future development?
The council discussed the use of a citizens' committee to address the sewer rates and that an ad hoc committee of two citizens would be adequate. We need a citizens' committee of the community to fully review the consultant report and our options. The committee would then identify an equitable alternative to the city's plan, which would hopefully be more feasible in these tough economic times.