Caneyville's Wastewater Facilities Plant Update Plan is now finally on its way to the Kentucky Division of Water.

The work is expected to add up to just over a $5 increase in monthly sewer bills for Caneyville sewer customers.

At a public hearing preceding the regularly scheduled Caneyville Commission meeting on Monday (May 9) commissioners and the public again listened to Vernon Shanklin of American Consulting Engineers, PLC, talk about the revised Wastewater Facilities Plant proposal before it went to the Commission for final approval.

Shanklin briefly summarized the conclusions reached up to this point.

He said that the proposed plan that would be sent to the Division of Water would include three phases.

In the zero to two year phase of the project Shanklin said the goals were to reduce the inflow/infiltration of storm water and ground water into the city's sewer system, rehabilitate the 100,000 gallon per day treatment plant and extend sewers along Highway 79 North to pick up 25 new services.

"The total cost of the proposed project," Shanklin said, "would be $1.1 million.

Some of the consumer cost estimates include:

$3.07 for debt service

$.28 for operation and maintenance of the system

$.73 for the reduction of inflow/infiltration

$1.18 for equipment repair and replacement

Shanklin said that with these numbers there would be a $5.26 increase in a customer's bill per month.

In later phases of the project he said the goal would be to extend the sewer system "as more funding becomes available."

Shanklin also brought up the issue of "tap-on" fees when the sewer is extended up Hwy. 79 North.

For those people with low to moderate incomes, their fees could possibly be paid out of any Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds the city receives, and for all others, "they will have to pay it," Shanklin said.

During their meeting commissioners voted to approve the revised plan that Shanklin presented.

The plan now goes to the Division of Water in Frankfort for approval.

Commissioners also took up the issue of street repairs on Walnut Grove Avenue.

According to Mayor James Embry, Walnut Grove "has a need for road tile."

The Commission voted to go ahead with the repairs and the spend the money needed for the project.

The cost of the project would be reimbursed by money (over $8,000) from State Road Bond sales, money the city was told it would receive.

However, the sales will take three years to complete.

Beginning in January 2006, the state will begin collecting all franchise fees for cable and telecommunication services, whether cities do it or not.

The new collection procedures are the result of action in the last General Assembly as legislators searched for ways to bolster the state budget.

When the franchise fees start going to the state, they are expected to increase by around 5.2 percent.

And also beginning in January, cities statewide will no longer be able to impose franchise fees.

With this in mind, commissioners discussed renewing the city's current contract with Mediacom and raising the franchise fee in Caneyville to 5 percent.

The city's current contract with Mediacom doesn't expire for three years, and under the proposed renewal plan, the city would be locked into a contract with Mediacom for another 12 years, which could seriously limit their ability to look for better cable services and telecommunication plans.

After some discussion commissioners opted not to renew the city's contract with Mediacom, deciding to wait until their contract is up before they do anything.

Commissioners also rejected the idea of raising the franchise fee.

It will remain at 3 percent in Caneyville until the state takes over its collection in January.

In other action the Commission:

Held a first reading for the 2004/2005 Amended Budget Ordinance.

Held a first reading for the 2005/2006 Budget Ordinance, with the second and final reading expected at the Commission's next meeting.

Agreed to draft a letter to Anthony Meredith, (who has a building project just off Highway 62) saying that they would allow him to "tap-on" to the city sewer system with his project.

Thanked the Falls of Rough Fire Department for the rescue truck they donated to Caneyville.

Heard from Police/Fire Chief Anthony Clark, who is looking into buying a couple of new fire trucks for the city. He reported that he is still looking into prices at this point.