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1181 February 3, 2015 • The Mooresville Town Council met in regular session on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, at 6:30 P. M. at the Mooresville Government Center. Council members present: President Mark Mathis,Vice-President Virginia Perry,Tony Langley,Joe Beikman, and Jeff Cook. No members were absent. Town Attorney Tim Currens was present. A motion was made by Councilwoman Perry with a second by Councilman Beikman to approve minutes of January 20, 2015 meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Council President Mathis appointed Tony Langley as Town Council representative to the Gateway project. A motion was made by Councilman Langley with a second by Councilman Beikman to appoint Dave Moore,Street Superintendent,to the Gateway project. Motion carried 5-0. A motion was made by Councilman Langley with a second by Councilman Beikman to appoint a fact finding committee to look into security for the Town's facilities consisting of Councilwoman Perry, Councilman Cook,Sandy Perry, and Dave Moore and Rex Cook as offered to help us. He does security for the school. Councilwoman Perry will chair the committee. Motion carried 5-0. Government Center Meeting Room Policy: Council President Mathis wants to talk to three other people yet so he wants to table this item. A motion was made by Councilwoman Perry with a second by Councilman Langley to table this to the next meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Legal: None At this time Councilman Langley gave the following remarks: Mooresville Water Rates(2011-2015) February 3,2015 Last week we learned that the private company that operates the water system serving Mooresville, Indiana-American Water Company,settled its most recent general rate increase request before the IURC. The company agreed to an overall increase of 2.55%system-wide. They had originally sought an increase in system-wide rates closer to 10%. But as we have learned over the past several years,the overall system-wide increase in rates isnot always the same increase realized by customers in Mooresville. In May of 2011, IAWC filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission a general rate increase for all customers served in Indiana. In the filing, IAWC requested the rates to Mooresville customers be increased more substantially than many other customers across the State simply because these customers had been historically charged a lower rate. In testimony to the Commission,water company officials discussed the plans to fully transition Mooresville customers to the higher group, achieving"single tariff pricing"for all customers of IAWC located across the State of Indiana. In June of 2012,the company was awarded a mere 1%system-wide increase by the regulatory agency. However, the company was granted permission to raise water rates in Mooresville approximately 20%as their strategy to consolidate water rates in Indiana played-out. Representing its citizens,the Mooresville Town Council objected to this"consolidated rate strategy" being implemented by the water company. However, because the regulatory commission in Indianapolis that approves these rates increases had already agreed to this strategy,the Council had very few options available to oppose this action. In late 2012,the Council began the process to acquire the Mooresville water system from the private owner, an action that would secure long-term water rates in-line with actual costs to operate the local water system. To place a dollar figure on the cost of consolidated rates to the citizens of Mooresville is not difficult. In 2011,the annual revenues generated by the Mooresville water system were reported to be approximately$1.6 million dollars annually. If single-tariff pricing were fully implemented, revenues collected from Mooresville customers are estimated to climb to as much as$2.5 million dollars annually. An estimated$900,000 per year in added water charges would be available to support the water operations, investments, and profits of the'p"rivate company,State-wide.