By Bruce Rolfe
The Climax Village Council will review water rates, administration fees and possibly changing the name of the administration fee after a recommendation was made by an Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) representative to Village of Climax Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson.
Gibson told the Village Council and audience at the October 21 meeting EGLE recommends municipalities review water rates and administration fees every three to five years to determine if an adjustment is needed or rates should remain the same. He said the last time the Village adjusted water and administration rates was February 18, 2021.
As part of the water system’s capital improvement plan, the last adjustment the village made was in 2021 when the 1000 gallon rate went from $3.62 to $3.80 and the administration fee was adjusted from $20 to $25. The EGLE representative also recommended the Village consider changing the name from administration fee to Readiness To Serve fee. A Readiness To Serve fee covers expensive water system maintenance costs like repairing or replacing a pump or for a water main break, which Gibson said could cost up to $100,000.
Gibson said the regional EGLE representative recommended adding 25% to the Administration fee, which would be $6.25 per household, per quarter, or $25 a year. Gibson said there are 305 water hookups in the village, meaning the adjustment would generate approximately $7,600 that would go into a fund for water maintenance. He said the 25 percent adjustment is still lower than some municipalities in the area.
Prein and Newhof are currently working on a water reliability study for the village. Gibson said if the reliability study recommends a figure lower than a 25% Readiness To Serve fee, the village will be in a good sport for future expense and could maintain that fee. However if the water reliability study recommends higher than a 25 percent adjustment, the village can look at making another adjustment in the future.
In Other DPW News:
All water hydrants have been flushed for the fourth quarter.
A hydrant has been replaced in front of the Climax Township Fire Station. The DPW staff thought the hydrant was fixed but it was still not functioning properly. Village Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson said replacing the hydrant was already in the 2025 budget so he authorized the hydrant to be replaced.
The standby generator that can operate the entire water system during a power outage, has been installed.
Group Inquires About Placing American Revolution Banners On Utility Poles In Village
A group working on the American Revolution inquired about having banners placed on village utility poles recognizing local residents who fought in the American Revolution.
The group would like the banners hung at a minimum from July 4 through July 8 as part of our country’s 250th anniversary celebration in 2026.
A veteran of the American Revolution is buried in Roof Cemetery.
The Council will determine if the banners can be placed on the same hardware in place to display banners recognizing C-S High School seniors and costs associated with the idea.
Climax Township Fire Department Report
Assistant Fire Chief Sean Perrin reports the Climax Township Fire Department had 24 calls for service for the month of September, including seven calls for service in the Village of Climax.
The local fire department responded to three vehicle accidents that included two mutual aid vehicle accidents with the Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Department.
Training with other fire departments ahead of becoming first responders for Wakeshma Township has started.
Village Is Not Awarded Grant For Road Funding
The Village of Climax was not among the 39 villages and cities across the state with populations less than 10,000 that will receive road funding grants awarded through the Community Service Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) Category B program. Established by the state Legislature in 2018 and administered by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the CSIF is a stop-gap program to help fund road projects in small communities. Successful projects were selected, in part, because they are paired with planned infrastructure work, coordinated with other road agencies, focused on extending the useful life of the road and have limited other funding sources.
Grant awards ranged from $50,000 to $250,000 for road resurfacing, culvert replacement, pavement crack sealing and other preservative measures.
There were no municipalities in Kalamazoo and Calhoun County that were awarded a grant.
Public Safety Update
Public Safety Chairman Nick Ludwig reports there were 56 officer initiated calls for service in the Village of Climax in the month of September.
Ordinance/Zoning/ Planning And Development
Ordinance/Zoning/Planning And Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly reports two files have been forwarded to Safebuilt to review. She said both files have been complaints the Village has been working on for a long time.
The Climax Village Council will review water rates, administration fees and possibly changing the name of the administration fee after a recommendation was made by an Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) representative to Village of Climax Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson.
Gibson told the Village Council and audience at the October 21 meeting EGLE recommends municipalities review water rates and administration fees every three to five years to determine if an adjustment is needed or rates should remain the same. He said the last time the Village adjusted water and administration rates was February 18, 2021.
As part of the water system’s capital improvement plan, the last adjustment the village made was in 2021 when the 1000 gallon rate went from $3.62 to $3.80 and the administration fee was adjusted from $20 to $25. The EGLE representative also recommended the Village consider changing the name from administration fee to Readiness To Serve fee. A Readiness To Serve fee covers expensive water system maintenance costs like repairing or replacing a pump or for a water main break, which Gibson said could cost up to $100,000.
Gibson said the regional EGLE representative recommended adding 25% to the Administration fee, which would be $6.25 per household, per quarter, or $25 a year. Gibson said there are 305 water hookups in the village, meaning the adjustment would generate approximately $7,600 that would go into a fund for water maintenance. He said the 25 percent adjustment is still lower than some municipalities in the area.
Prein and Newhof are currently working on a water reliability study for the village. Gibson said if the reliability study recommends a figure lower than a 25% Readiness To Serve fee, the village will be in a good sport for future expense and could maintain that fee. However if the water reliability study recommends higher than a 25 percent adjustment, the village can look at making another adjustment in the future.
In Other DPW News:
All water hydrants have been flushed for the fourth quarter.
A hydrant has been replaced in front of the Climax Township Fire Station. The DPW staff thought the hydrant was fixed but it was still not functioning properly. Village Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson said replacing the hydrant was already in the 2025 budget so he authorized the hydrant to be replaced.
The standby generator that can operate the entire water system during a power outage, has been installed.
Group Inquires About Placing American Revolution Banners On Utility Poles In Village
A group working on the American Revolution inquired about having banners placed on village utility poles recognizing local residents who fought in the American Revolution.
The group would like the banners hung at a minimum from July 4 through July 8 as part of our country’s 250th anniversary celebration in 2026.
A veteran of the American Revolution is buried in Roof Cemetery.
The Council will determine if the banners can be placed on the same hardware in place to display banners recognizing C-S High School seniors and costs associated with the idea.
Climax Township Fire Department Report
Assistant Fire Chief Sean Perrin reports the Climax Township Fire Department had 24 calls for service for the month of September, including seven calls for service in the Village of Climax.
The local fire department responded to three vehicle accidents that included two mutual aid vehicle accidents with the Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Department.
Training with other fire departments ahead of becoming first responders for Wakeshma Township has started.
Village Is Not Awarded Grant For Road Funding
The Village of Climax was not among the 39 villages and cities across the state with populations less than 10,000 that will receive road funding grants awarded through the Community Service Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) Category B program. Established by the state Legislature in 2018 and administered by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the CSIF is a stop-gap program to help fund road projects in small communities. Successful projects were selected, in part, because they are paired with planned infrastructure work, coordinated with other road agencies, focused on extending the useful life of the road and have limited other funding sources.
Grant awards ranged from $50,000 to $250,000 for road resurfacing, culvert replacement, pavement crack sealing and other preservative measures.
There were no municipalities in Kalamazoo and Calhoun County that were awarded a grant.
Public Safety Update
Public Safety Chairman Nick Ludwig reports there were 56 officer initiated calls for service in the Village of Climax in the month of September.
Ordinance/Zoning/ Planning And Development
Ordinance/Zoning/Planning And Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly reports two files have been forwarded to Safebuilt to review. She said both files have been complaints the Village has been working on for a long time.
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