Patterson goes along with sewer rate increase

PATTERSON — Flushing toilets here will cost residents and business owners at least a $1.50 more per month, depending on how much water they use.
Faced with obligations contained within a St Mary Parish intergovernmental agreement, the Patterson City Council voted unanimously Monday to accept a controversial sewer service rate increase and pass it on to Patterson residents.
The increase approved in a special City Council meeting, is for an extra $1.50 on every 1,000 gallons treated by the St. Mary Parish Wards 5 and 8 Joint Sewage Commission.
The commission is an intergovernmental entity created 41 years ago by the St. Mary Parish Council, the city of Patterson and the town of Berwick.
Its mission is to provide sewer services, and to operate a regional sewage treatment facility to eastern St. Mary Parish. It is responsible for providing safe, high-quality sewer services to residents in those specific wards, as outlined in its mission statement and financial reports.
In August, Chris Cooper, then commission chairman, sent “To Whom It May Concern” letters to Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan and Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur, announcing a $1.50 rate increase per 1,000 gallons of water the sewage waste systems’ receive, to be assessed from both the city and the town. Cooper later said in person at a Patterson City Council meeting that the increase was needed because the commission is basically broke.
Last week, the Berwick Town Council voted to pass on the increase to its citizens.
Grogan said Monday during the special city council meeting, “Bayou Vista has yet to come to the table.”
Now serving as Joint Sewage Commission interim chairman, Michael Stewart, who represents the city of Patterson, told the City Council Monday that the rate hike went into effect on Oct 1 to help the commission continue to operate 14 sewage systems in East St Mary Parish, some of which are on life support, while others have been bandaged by the commission, both past and present members.
Stewart, who has served on the commission for seven years, said he hopes the revenues will help the commission work toward more than $5 million in needed projects.
Grogan, noting Stewart’s profession as a plumber, chided him for not keeping the city of Patterson informed of the commission’s financial woes sooner.
“Learning of this situation in the manner we did, well that’s not how it is supposed to be done,” Grogan said. “As it is now, we still haven’t received copies of any minutes from commission meetings, which remains a violation of this intergovernmental agreement.
“I know we have to work with ya’ll, but we’re going to have to get this intergovernmental agreement cleaned up,” Grogan said.
The mayor also informed Stewart that he is doing what he can to get a rate study conducted by the Louisiana Rural Waste Water Association as soon as November, instead of waiting until 2026, to find out exactly how much the commission should be charging its users.
“This could be $10 instead of $1.50 before it is all over with,” Grogan said.
“And now I have grave concern for our seniors who are on a limited income, because they will have to balance this increase with their grocery bills.”
Stewart apologized and asked what would the mayor and council like him to do. “Please give me the opportunity to get deeper into this and target these problems.”
Councilman Ray Dewey suggested that he appear quarterly at their meetings to report.
However, Grogan said Stewart’s report must be a monthly agenda item until the intergovernmental agreement is fine-tuned.
“We all have to work together for the betterment of Patterson and our entire community as a whole,” Grogan said. “As it stands right now, if something really big breaks down, Patterson, Berwick and even the parish will have to each write a $300,000 check.”
Stewart agreed, citing the commission recently completed work on a Taft Street project in Patterson, which cost roughly $400,000.
Councilman Mamie Perry and Mayor Pro-Tem Lee Condolle both asked for steady communication, suggesting things will go smoother.
Still, Main Street Director Slade Sanders said he was baffled at how the commission has found itself in a $5 million quandary of needed equipment and repairs.
Speaking from the audience Monday, Sanders said the $5 million estimate did not happen overnight.
“How did we get to this point? What happened to maintenance budgets over these periods?” he asked. “You know, you have to change your oil in your engine before you burn your motor up.”
Sewage Commissioner Tim Kyle, who also represents Patterson, reassured the council that Calvin Sanders, the commission’s only full-time employee other than the superintendent, spends his whole day regularly inspecting the commissions 14 sewage treatment wells.
Stewart said Sanders is on the job, but the commission is also looking for two additional entry-level employees to work with him.
After the meeting, Sanders said interested persons can call him directly at 985-992-6890.
“If someone is really interested in this line of work, I will push for them to gain more skills by allowing them to attend school. We need additional hands to help us run efficiently,” he said.