By Greg Reedy
Sports Editor

JOHNSONBURG – The Johnsonburg Municipal Authority voted to raise the sewer rates last night at its regular meeting at the Johnsonburg Municipal Authority building.
The sewer rates were raised by $4 per month and the change will take effect on April 1, the same as the water rate increase. Authority members were not happy about having to make this decision but felt they had no choice.
"For the amount of debt we have, there's no other way of doing it without raising the rates," chairman Hud Caldwell said. "It's a tough thing to do but here we are."
In talks with approving the sewer rates and eliminating the free water and sewer overages, an example was given saying if a person used 16,000 gallons of water they would be billed for 16,000 gallons of sewer. The free sewer and water was subsequently eliminated which the authority estimated would bring in $28,000 per year. There were four issues stated, the elimination of the free sewer, personnel issues, how much to raise the sewer rates and bulk rates.
A proposal was approved for an annual subscription for unlimited usage with Swiftreach Networks for a cost of $1,740 for an auto dialer. The sale of water was approved to EOG Resources at a rate of $7 per thousand.
Dan Guss updated the authority on project activities. The contractor informed Guss that the work is still about one month behind schedule. Guss said work continues on the pouring of concrete for walls in all of the structures in the project. He said the concrete in the chlorine contact tank area is completed. The pump station on the east side of the river has the prefabricated concrete wet wall going into place. Construction is about 38 percent complete and Guss said they are in good shape with the budget.
Denny Lingenfelter spoke about a misconception of a "$1.5 million mistake" with bids at the sewage treatment plant.
"D.J. (Haupricht) advised me that there's been a misconception about what's being labeled as a "$1.5 million mistake," Lingenfelter said. "There was a bid at the treatment plant and that bid did come over the estimate. That was involved at the wastewater treatment plant. That has nothing to do with the water rate. There's been a misconception that because the plant bids came in overestimated that somehow it had an impact on the water rate. They're not related at all. Whatever happens at the wastewater treatment plant is totally separate than the water. That was a bid, that wasn't a mistake that was made. The amount paid by the authority was probably a lot less than expected."
Guss said the concrete wall for the digester/clarifier area and equalization tank and control and preliminary treatment buildings will be nearing completion. Some block work for buildings will be started. Site piping installation will continue and additional electrical conduit ducts will be installed.
Change order No. 3 for $3,740 and three pay applications were approved.
Ray Parana of 172 Glen Mayo Rd. had a sewer tap application approved.
The foreman's report stated that meters were read around Johnsonburg and there was a water leak on Oak Street with a service line and a water leak on Rose Street with a service line and a main line. A new water tap was put on Long Level Road.
There is a report of a problem on 5th Avenue, a small water leak because it's a pump line and very deep.