Sunday, January 4, 2009

Happy New Year! We're Back!!!!

Fee Schedule Changes to Affect Residents

The council also adopted Ordinance No. 22, the city’s 2009 Fee Schedule.

Changes include a 5% increase in water and sewer rates and storm water drainage fees as well as changes to the way drainage fees are calculated for commercial and industrial property.

Taxpayers will also notice the addition of a $21 quarterly water base charge which represents the benefit of accessibility to hydrants for all city residents and business owners whether they have municipal water service or not.

Centerville has been upgraded to a Fire Class 5, effectively lowering fire insurance rates because of hydrant availability, Administrator Larson said.

This charge will appear on municipal April 1 quarterly drainage and/or sewer & water statements.

It's not a tax increase, it's a new water charge... Something we look forward to this New Year!

Link Here

The Citizen 12/24/2008

Update From City Administrator in Response to a Copy and Paste of The Citizen News Article Linked Above

Monday, January 5, 2009 9:21 AM
From:
To: Centervilleblog@yahoo.com
Your blog states that the city water charge of $84 will apply to all residents. The charge at $80 is already on the bill of the majority of residents (all who are connected to city water) and for them only the 5% increase will apply. This fee will be new to those that are not connected to city water, but receive benefits due to the fire insurance rating.

Dallas Larson, Administrator
City of Centerville
651-429-3232

UPDATE
The ISO Fire Protection Rating System
The link above will open a PDF file created by the Minnesota League of Cities.
There appears to be no difference in estimated premiums ranked classifications four through seven, based on a $150,000 residential property. (page 3 of 4)
Class 1-3 average annual premium $653
Class 4-7 average annual premium $662
Class 8-9 average annual premium $667
Class 10 average annual premium $670
Estimated premiums based on insurance companies which recognize the ISO protection rating.

Check you individual policy for any reduction the new lower class five rating may have on your premium.


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

$84.00 per year
X 1,200 households
= $100,800 extra!
Woo Hoo!!!! Maybe we can get that road maintenance fund after all.
Don't hold your breath... Council probably has it's eye on a new property or fancy entrance signs.
What a joke!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for coming back. Happy New Year!!!!!
I'll tax you for water even if you don't have it. Priceless!

Anonymous said...

Oh, that's right, it's not a tax if it's not called one.
How surreptitious of our elected officials!
Wake up Centerville!

Anonymous said...

It's a fire insurance rating fee not a tax. How creative and clever. Thank you for clarifying Mr. Larson.

Anonymous said...

"Centerville has been upgraded to a Fire Class 5, effectively lowering fire insurance rates because of hydrant availability, Administrator Larson said."

Where are the statistics on this? Has anyone contacted their insurance company to request a reduction in their premium? I am going to call mine today and find out.

Anonymous said...

My insurance agent said it makes no difference in my premium since I live within three miles of the fire department. EVERYONE in Centerville lives within three miles of the fire department because our town is only 2.2 square miles!!!
EVERYONE will be paying the additional water charge. The City is now forcing those with their own water to pay up. The email from our administrator confirms that!
I don't see any benefit to the residents regarding the upgraded fire insurance rating. Call your insurance agent and find out!

Anonymous said...

I find it interesting that the last ISO upgrade was in 1990! So what upgrade is mr.larson talking about? When I called my insurance agent he had no idea there was even an ISO rating.

Anonymous said...

Wake up. The council's spending is out of control. The $21per quarter is to help them spend more. I have fire insurance why should I be forced to pay for more? I don't use the fire hydrants and won't unless I have a house fire. What are the chances of that happening? The council needs to get a life so they don't have so much time on their hands to dream up ways of spending our money. Where is their accountability? They were elected to work for the good of Centerville citizens NOT against them? We have so many houses sitting empty. Draining pocket books of citizens will only add more to the list.