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Fair Share Assessment Fee increase considered
By Greta Myers
The Rochester village board discussed increasing the village’s Fair Share Assessment Fee during its December 12 meeting.
Developers currently pay $231 per plumbing fixture that is connected to Rochester’s sewer system. Trustee Harry Hendrickson said
that during the December 5 public works meeting, the committee discussed raising the fee to between $287 and $336 as a way to
help pay for improvements to the village’s water and sewer lines.
Hendrickson said the committee settled on $300 and that the majority of the village was in support of the increase to help pay
for the growth of Rochester. The improvements will include building a new water tower, expanding the village’s water main and
making improvements to the village’s primary pump station.
Developer John Stites of Hasara Construction told the board that he and other area builders were caught off guard by the
increase and questioned what the new funds would be paying for. Stites said he was concerned that the increase would be used to
cover existing debt and not new growth. “It needs to go back to committee for more discussion before just taking a number out of the
blue sky,” Stites said of the proposed increase.
Hendrickson said that process will be ongoing and that after a new proposal is drafted it will be discussed by the committee.
The next public works committee meeting will be held January 23, 2012 at 7 p.m. at the village hall.
Also at the meeting:
The board approved the Fiscal Year 2011 audit report. Auditor Randy Ragan said that the results were favorable and found no
violations of laws or contracts by the village board.
Village president Dave Armstrong encouraged residents to enter the “We Hear You America” sweepstakes sponsored by
Reader’s Digest magazine. The magazine awards a grand prize of $50,000 to the American town with the most votes. There is no
cost for entering and votes can be submitted at www.readersdigest.com until March 1, 2012.
Hendrickson said that the painting of the water tower was almost complete. He gave a special thanks to Sherman Williams and
their local representative, Tim Allen, for donating paint for the project.
In other news:
Friday, December 16 was denoted the “Rochester Boys Football Team Day” in honor of the team’s recent Class 4A state
championship win.
The village brush pile will be open on on two upcoming Saturdays, December 31 and January 7 to accept Christmas trees.
By Greta Myers
The Rochester village board discussed increasing the village’s Fair Share Assessment Fee during its December 12 meeting.
Developers currently pay $231 per plumbing fixture that is connected to Rochester’s sewer system. Trustee Harry Hendrickson said
that during the December 5 public works meeting, the committee discussed raising the fee to between $287 and $336 as a way to
help pay for improvements to the village’s water and sewer lines.
Hendrickson said the committee settled on $300 and that the majority of the village was in support of the increase to help pay
for the growth of Rochester. The improvements will include building a new water tower, expanding the village’s water main and
making improvements to the village’s primary pump station.
Developer John Stites of Hasara Construction told the board that he and other area builders were caught off guard by the
increase and questioned what the new funds would be paying for. Stites said he was concerned that the increase would be used to
cover existing debt and not new growth. “It needs to go back to committee for more discussion before just taking a number out of the
blue sky,” Stites said of the proposed increase.
Hendrickson said that process will be ongoing and that after a new proposal is drafted it will be discussed by the committee.
The next public works committee meeting will be held January 23, 2012 at 7 p.m. at the village hall.
Also at the meeting:
The board approved the Fiscal Year 2011 audit report. Auditor Randy Ragan said that the results were favorable and found no
violations of laws or contracts by the village board.
Village president Dave Armstrong encouraged residents to enter the “We Hear You America” sweepstakes sponsored by
Reader’s Digest magazine. The magazine awards a grand prize of $50,000 to the American town with the most votes. There is no
cost for entering and votes can be submitted at www.readersdigest.com until March 1, 2012.
Hendrickson said that the painting of the water tower was almost complete. He gave a special thanks to Sherman Williams and
their local representative, Tim Allen, for donating paint for the project.
In other news:
Friday, December 16 was denoted the “Rochester Boys Football Team Day” in honor of the team’s recent Class 4A state
championship win.
The village brush pile will be open on on two upcoming Saturdays, December 31 and January 7 to accept Christmas trees.
Issue Date: Dec. 15, 2011
