www.southingtoncitizen.com
Volume 19, Number 29
Friday, July 22, 2022
Water rate hike starts in August
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By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
Berkmoes said. “It’s everything. Our chemicals have gone up, our piping has gone up, obviously our labor has gone up.
SOUTHINGTON — Water rates will rise beginning next month following a vote by the Board of Water Commissioners.
“We don’t want to come up short,” he added.
The rate per 100 cubic feet of water will rise by 10 percent to $3.87. A quarterly base charge will increase from $25.96 to $28.56. Residents are billed quarterly.
House of Heroes Connecticut volunteers spruced up the Plainville home of Vietnam veteran Peter Johnson on Saturday, July 16. The volunteer group included a large contingent of Plainville High School football players, and the effort was made possible by Project Partner Tops Marketplace of Plantsville. See story inside. Photo courtesy of House of Heroes Connecticut
Italian flags removed per new ordinance By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
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The flags on town-owned land and lampposts are no longer allowed following the SOUTHINGTON — Italian passage of an ordinance that flags won’t be hanging from limits flags on public lands lampposts at the 2022 Italian- to those representing govAmerican Festival but will in- ernment organizations only. stead be displayed by Center Members of the ItalianStreet property owners.
Bob Berkmoes, water board president, said the increase is greater than the usual annual rate hike. Previous increases have been between 3 and 5 percent, according to water department officials.
Douglas Arndt, water department superintendent, said cost increases have outpaced the typical annual rate hikes. “Our costs have been going up four, eight, nine percent,” he said. “The costs have been outweighing (increases).” The department needs to maintain its savings for major projects, including infrastructure.
“We have a good number of “We usually try to keep it as low water mains that are over 100 as we possibly can. But with the years old,” Arndt said. “The increase in supplies in districonsequences if we don’t have bution, we had to raise it a little bit more than we usually do,”
American festival committee, representing three Italian clubs in town, put the flags up this month on lampposts along Center Street. The flags’ presence was considered by Town At-
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