By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The loss of a major revenue source has the City of Decatur looking at its water and sewer rates.
Clerk-treasurer Kevin Hackman told the city’s board of works and safety at its latest meeting that he recommends doing a study of the current sewer rates.
Since Crowe LLC was nearing the completion of a study of water rates, it was decided to have the South Bend firm do a sewer rate study as well.
When Dean Foods went out of business here a couple of years ago, city water and sewage revenues took a big hit. Dean was the city’s largest sewage customer and its second-largest water user, according to Hackman
The current lower revenues could cause a drop the city’s bond rating, a key to gaining lower interest rates on bond issuances.
It is believed that once the Country Butcher beef processing facility – which took over the Industrial Park plant Dean had occupied – gets into full operation it could significantly help replace the Dean revenue loss.