A flare from the Minden-Gardnerville Sanitation District burns off excess methane that's part of the normal process at the plant located next to the Ironwood Center. MGSD Photo
A 60-percent sewer rate increase approved for customers of Minden-Gardnerville Sanitation District will translate into a bill of $67.17 a quarter starting Jan. 1.
According to a rate study presented at a Oct. 2 public hearing, the rate is expected to rise over the next five years, topping out at $117.09 a quarter starting July 1, 2028.
The district serves Gardnerville, Minden and the Gardnerville Ranchos. Both Douglas County and Indian Hills operate sewer plants in the East Fork Township.
The district has been charging residents $41.97 a quarter for the past decade, according to rate consultant Catherine Hansford.
The district hasn’t changed rates for new connections in 17 years.
The current fee for connections inside the district’s 1978 boundary is $3,150 per equivalent dwelling unit and $3,800 outside the boundary. The district is changing the fee to $5,270 across the board.
Hansford explained that rates paid by customers are used to maintain the plant, while the connection fees are used to expand the plant to serve new customers.
She said the sewer plant will require $20.09 million in future dollars,
The treatment plant $12.433 million, $6.516 million and general facilities $1.141 million.
For instance, a Feb. 14 power spike fried the district’s electrical breaker causing an explosion and a long-term outage. The plant was disconnected from the grid and was running on a generator.
Plant Manager Peter Baratti said that a new breaker will take 60 weeks to arrive.
“We’re looking down the road quite aways,” he said. “It’s unfortunate but that’s what the industry has to offer.”
Six people provided public comment, including three in person.
Gardnerville resident Julie Duda said that the district collects property tax in addition to user fees and that her examination of the financial statements indicated that wasn’t included in a comparison with other sewer rates.
The district collects .1224 per $100 assessed valuation, according to the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office.
Trustee Ray Wilson said he voted against the rate increase in 2012, but is supporting this year.
“If we don’t do something and do it big, we’re going to be in trouble,” Wilson said. “We have equipment that’s 60 years old and it needs to be replaced.”
