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Latrobe sewage costs to increase this year | TribLIVE.com
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Latrobe sewage costs to increase this year

Jeff Himler

The basic monthly user rate for Latrobe Municipal Authority sewage customers is set to increase by 45 cents later this year.

The authority board this week voted to increase the monthly fee, per 1,000 gallons, from $2.30 to $2.75. But Ellen Keefe, who chairs the board, noted there will no longer be a minimum charge — which has been set at $11.50, for 5,000 gallons.

The new rate will take effect when the authority switches to a new billing system, possibly as early as October.

The authority in March announced two other additions to monthly sewage charges — a $6.50 debt service fee that will take effect July 1 and a $6 fee that will help cover administrative and operational costs and will be introduced along with the billing switch.

The sewage rate changes are linked to a $10 million bond issue needed to finance state-mandated storm water management improvements. The improvements are meant to help avert episodes where excess flows bypass the authority's sewage treatment plant before entering the Loyalhanna Creek.

In March, the authority announced its new sewage user rate could be as high as $3.35 per 1,000 gallons, but Keefe said engineers reviewed project costs and recommended the more modest increase.

At its June meeting, the authority also agreed to rebuild a manhole in conjunction with a project needed to relocate an authority sewer line around a new dek hockey arena the Latrobe-Greater Latrobe School District Parks and Recreation board plans to build near Latrobe's Memorial Stadium.

Keefe said the authority will cover the cost of about $10,000 for the manhole, which required attention anyway, but the rec board will be responsible for remaining costs, including $30,000 for materials.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6622, jhimler@tribweb.com or via Twitter @jhimler_news.