The public hearing on the FY 2012 proposed St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission (MetCom) budget received no comment on utility rate increases at a public hearing on Tuesday. And only two people spoke at all on the budget.
MetCom is the agency that provides public water and sewer service throughout the county. Their proposed budget contains a $2.54 monthly increase for the average residential customer receiving water and sewer service. The increase brings the monthly bill to $65.21.
The only comment on the budget was from Kevin Cusic, who as part of his business hauls grease trap waste from restaurants. The commission is proposing to increase the cost of hauling grease trap waste from $195.57 per 1,000 gallons to $230.94.
MetCom Chief Financial Officer Becky Shick told the hearing attendees, “Historically, rates have not reflected actual treatment cost for grease trap waste. Three years ago a phased rate increase was initiated, to bring the rates to the true cost of treatment. The FY 2012 increase represents the third year of a phased increase.”
Cusic argued that now is not the time to increase costs for restaurants. He said they are struggling because of the economy. He typically makes a haul from a restaurant every three months and has to pass on his cost for hauling on to his clients. He also noted his fuel costs were increasing.
Cusic said he has told his customers about the proposed rate increase and that the commission can expect to get letters from local restaurants asking for MetCom to hold the line on rate increases this year.
The only other speaker at the public hearing was Ken Fugate of Piney Point Shores, who asked why a number of trucks were accessing the fire hydrant there. He was told by MetCom Executive Director Jacquelyn Meiser that there are a number of hydrants throughout the county that can be accessed, and the charge is the same regardless of which hydrant is used.
Fugate said he was concerned because the same water line being tapped is used for residential water service. Meiser said there is a backflow device on the hydrants to prevent contaminants from entering the water system. Also, Shick said the cost for people with permits to access the fire hydrants is twice what residential users are charged for water.
Meiser said the commission would hold the record open until June 1 to receive written comments on the proposed budget.
