Decatur City Council approves increased utility bills
Decatur Utility customer’s bills will go up beginning in February.
Utility increases will start in February 2021 for the city of Decatur By Madison Scarpino | January 19, 2021 at 5:17 PM CST - Updated January 19 at 6:46 PM
MORGAN CO., Ala. (WAFF) - Decatur’s City Council passed the access rate increase by a three to one margin.
The increased fees will go toward Decatur Utility’s 10-year-plan to fix the city’s sanitary sewer system. The city’s aging infrastructure has led to sewage overflows for years.
Bills for the average customer will go up by $10 per month this year. Next year, another $6 gets tacked on. And in 2022, $4 more will be added.
The suspension will last approximately two months, but customers will still be responsible for their bills. Author: WZDX News Updated: 7:10 PM CST January 8, 2021
DECATUR, Ala. Decatur Utilities announced it is suspending disconnects for non-payment for about two months starting on Jan. 11.
General Manager Ray Hardin said the move is being made due to the recent rise of COVID-19 cases in the Decatur area. “Many of our customers are still being affected financially by the pandemic,” Hardin said. “We feel it is important that DU take this action in hopes of helping them work through this difficult time.
DU says that while accounts will not be disconnected during this period, customers will be responsible for the full bill amount accrued until payment is made. Disconnections are scheduled to resume Monday, March 15th. DU will reevaluate the COVID-19 situation at that time.
Jackson wants industries to foot larger portion of utility rate increase decaturdaily.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from decaturdaily.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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I find it amusing that the residents of Decatur would be asked to pay higher sewer rates to repair leaking sewers when they are willing to spend money to extend service to accommodate builders needs for new subdivisions in the Decatur/Priceville area.
I would personally like to see money spent to extend sewer access to existing homes within the city of Decatur, such as in my neighborhood off Shady Grove Lane Southwest, to meet the needs of current taxpaying Decatur Utilities customers.
Lewis Allison
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Implementing a plan to improve the entrance into Decatur along Sixth Avenue will cost $5 million to $6 million, Decatur officials said, and they expect details of the plan to be unveiled early in 2021.
Those involved with the plan to beautify Sixth Avenue from the Hudson Memorial Bridge to Delano Park met in a video conference Wednesday with consultant Volkert Inc., which estimated the cost of the project.
Their goal is to improve this city entrance from the north so itâs more inviting to visitors and developers.
Birmingham-based Volkert is receiving $100,000, funded primarily by the Alabama Department of Transportation, to do the streetscape study and create a plan.