Now the big question. What does this do to sewer rates?
Unfortunately they will go up. The City has benefitted from extremely low sewer costs for many, many years. Sewer rates are based on the user’s water consumption. City rates changed most recently in 2007, increasing by $2 on the first 1,000 gallons water consumed and 20 cents per 1,000 gallons thereafter. Prior increases occurred in 2005 and 2002. The current rate structure - $11 for the first 1,000 gallons of water consumed and $2.30 per 1,000 gallons thereafter – is the lowest in the area when compared to Paola, Osawatomie and Spring Hill (see information below). At its meeting Nov. 16, 2015, the Council is considering step increases to sewer rates to begin to build some money to pay for engineering and other upfront costs. The City of Louisburg is in an area of the state that is growing and the city is poised to grow as the economy improves. The estimated population in 20 years is expected to be almost 10,000 at an average growth rate of 3.5 percent per year. As the population grows, that will help lower sewer costs for all as the cost can be spread to more users. The City is considering some kind of tiered plan where the biggest sewer contributors will pay more than a single household. The City Council is just beginning to grapple with this need and has lots of decisions to make that will affect Louisburg for many years to come.

Per 1,000 gallon average cost for residential customers based on 4,000 gallon monthly use and additional sewer charges:

Louisburg $4.48 $17.90/month
Osawatomie $9.02 $36.08/month
Paola $9.55 $38.20/month
Spring Hill $10.40 $41.58/month

Detailed Information:
Osawatomie – $4.33 user charge per month, $21.75 net capital charge per month and 25 cents/100 gallon Winter Average (December and January);
Paola – $23 per month sewer service charge plus 38 cents/100 gallon Winter Average (mid-December to mid-February); and
Spring Hill – $16.14 for first 2,000 gallon, $8.22/1,000 gallon thereafter and a $9 per month service charge.

Show All Answers

1. It’s now Spring 2017. What’s the latest on the sewer project?
2. What is wrong with the City of Louisburg’s current sewer system and why are changes needed?
3. Why is the City of Louisburg being targeted to make changes?
4. What was the City’s next step?
5. What did the Larkin Lamp Rynearson report say?
6. I thought the City upgraded the lagoons several years ago and those changes were to be sufficient for 20 or more years. What happened?
7. What’s the historical timeline of the current lagoons?
8. The City has decided Option 3 best fits the City’s needs. Why?
9. Now the big question. What does this do to sewer rates?
10. Where can I find the report to learn more?