The Charlestown City Council voted unanimously in its March 1 meeting to pass an ordinance that could lower sewer rates by up to $5 per month or $60 annually.

Serious talks about rate decreases commenced after the city received a new agreement from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). The order required repairs and improvements that would increase the capacity of sewage flow, thereby preventing wastewater overflow. The previous order entered into in 2005 would have required the city spend more than $6 million dollars to be in compliance. Mayor Bob Hall, after taking office, met with Governor Daniels, Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and IDEM officials to ask for time for Saegesser Engineering to reevaluate the scope of work. A new proposal and timeline was submitted and accepted.

Umbaugh and Associates, the city’s financial consulting firm, implemented a rate study to explore whether or not a decrease would be feasible, and discovered that it would.

The rate decrease comes at a time when other communities in the area have raised sewer rates as much as 200%. “I feel vindicated. It feels pretty good to know I sat on the previous council, and I voted against water and sewer rate increases under another administration, and now you can actually see the reason,” commented Councilman Jeff Aaron. He concluded by saying “…it’s about doing the right thing and putting people first.”

Though Charlestown has tackled most of the sewer issues addressed in the IDEM order on its own, it has applied for a $600,000 grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) to help defray the cost of the projects, while the city would remain responsible for matching funds in the amount of $77,000. The grant would cover the cost of running a new sewer line under Greenway Park. City officials expect to learn in May whether the grant has been awarded. Though a possible grant denial could occur, it would not mean an increase in rates, according to Hall.

Hall continued “I am happy we can do this now and wish it could be more. However, I do want the residents of Charlestown to know that, regardless of what other municipalities and governments are facing, Charlestown is solvent, and they will receive no financial surprises from their city government. We have lowered fees, property taxes and now sewer rates. We have not borrowed any money and we have lived within our budgets. I am proud of all the city workers for helping to identify ways do more with less.”

Council President Scott McKechnie and Councilman Dan Roberts expressed similar thoughts concerning the the reduction, stating that they were proud to have previously voted to decrease taxes and fees, and now sewer rates in order to lower the cost of living in Charlestown for all citizens.

Councilman Terry Pierce was not present at the meeting because of an injury.

As part of the other sewer improvements, construction on the new sewer lines for Lakeview and Highview subdivisions has begun. The new lines will render residents’ current, and faulty septic systems obsolete. Residents of the two neighborhoods have long experienced standing water and waste in their yards. The addition of sewers will make these neighborhoods safer and more pleasant, as well as make the homes more attractive to buyers and increase slumping property values in the area.

Prior to cutting sewer rates, the city must hold a public hearing and pass an ordinance. Additional time will be needed to update the rate cuts in the wastewater billing system. If all the pieces fall into place, rates are expected to change June 1.

This is another historic day in the overall 1:1 Initiative.  Getting here has been a labor of love.  Now it’s like witnessing the birth of your child and knowing that you will get to watch it develop and grow over the next several years.  I am excited to see the work, already taking place at the Charlestown High School, extended to younger kids.

Mrs. Joyce Traub, principal of the school, expressed her gratitude to all parties involved including the Charlestown Kiwanis Club, who spearheaded the effort to raise money for the purchase of protective carrying bags for the computers.

Read an article about the rollout in the Jeffersonville Evening News.

Ruthie has been a very valued employee of the city in helping me through a very active schedule over the last two years. Doing all you would expect from someone in her position. She has also been in charge of the Access All program that was initiated by the Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. Through this effort she has help many seniors citizens and families receive internet service that did not have before.

In addition to her everyday responsibilities with the city, Ruthie has been very instrumental in establishing the Citywide Block Watch and Emergency Preparedness program. This started from scratch and now has over 600 homes participating in it. Ruthie and the members of the Block Watch played an absolute vital role in the hurricane and ice storm. She helped to organize and direct for the identifying and providing of food and shelter to those in need. She has been a great help in many events that helps this community. Including the back to school back pack program, through which hundreds of kids received necessary school supplies and a backpack.

Because her work though the disasters, and her continued efforts of feeding hundreds of families each month as Director of the North Clark Outreach Center, Ruthie was honored to be selected as “Clark County Woman of the Year in 2009”.

We are sad to see her leave her position, but fully support her in her quest to become the Trustee of Charlestown Township. This will be in her words, “ Another opportunity to do what I truly have a passion for, that is helping people.”

She is not leaving under any negative circumstances. She has been nothing but a great civil servant of the city. However because of the demands of a very active schedule as assistant to the Mayor, we mutually agree the city would not be served well by her campaigning and holding this vital position. Her desire to do what is best for the citizens of Charlestown is why I hired her in the first place and this commitment and integrity is why she is leaving now.

On a personal note. Ruthie has been a very capable Assistant, an advisor, an untiring advocate of Charlestown, and loyal friend that I am proud to work with. I wish her well in her next endeavor.

Mayor Bob Hall

Diane Staton will be filling that position and we will send bio and contact information soon.

Parkside Trace’s first stage saw the construction of four 16-unit buildings. Each apartment in the four buildings is 1,100-square-foot with 9-foot ceilings, two bedrooms, two baths and a patio or deck.

“Finally, Charlestown is home to the finest luxury apartments in all of Southern Indiana,” said developer Denis Frankenberger. “We are exicited for you to visit and see.”

Representatives of the City of Charlestown will be present to conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m.

Parkside Trace Apartments is located in Charlestown Landing along Ind. 62 in Charlestown, Ind.