EVANS CITY — Some councilmen want sewer customers to attend the Oct. 3 borough meeting to talk about sewer rates, which may go up.

The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the public library meeting room.

In summer 2009, a $1.1 million sewer line extension that was mandated by the state Department of Environmental Protection brought public sewer service to 32 new customers in the borough.

To pay for the extension, council in 2009 passed an ordinance to increase monthly rates by $11.50 for all 700 sewage customers and by an additional $40 for customers on the extension. For unknown reasons, the $40 increase for extension customers was never implemented.

In July, council approved a new ordinance increasing basic sewer rates for the 28 residential customers who got the extension from $28.49 to $89.

Four residential customers who required pumps to move their sewage to a line uphill had their rates rise from $28.49 to $50.

The July ordinance negated the $40 increase included in the 2009 ordinance.

A number of extension customers came to the September council meeting to complain about the recent increase, especially since a planned sewer plant upgrade could increase minimum rates by another $40.

Valene Reed of Van Buren Street said after the upcoming increase, extension customers will pay at least $160 per month for basic sewer and water service.

“How are we going to sell a house?” Reed asked.

Van Buren Street resident Andrew Green proposed that all 732 Evans City sewer customers pay $3 more, which would cover the monthly payment on the 20-year loan that funded the extension project.

In fact, Green said the overall $3 increase would bring in more money than the recent increase for extension customers.

Councilman John McKinney made a motion to approve the $3 overall increase over the protests of other council members, who said changing an ordinance so quickly was ill-advised.

Council members Paul Foster, Karl Kennedy and Roy Long said they would like to hear from other customers regarding increasing their rates to pay for an extension that did not benefit them.

After a long debate, Foster proposed advertising a $4 overall increase. A confusing roll call vote followed in which some council members abstained and Mayor Gary Foster voted yes.

Council President Bill Painter declared the motion passed, but Foster and Kennedy have since expressed a desire to hear from nonextension customers regarding the increase.

“(The $4 increase) means each residence would pay about $960 over 20 years,” Kennedy said in a statement.

He also pointed out that Evans City has many residents who are on fixed incomes, and that the Seneca Valley School District levied a 5.6 mill property tax increase this year.

“Every time the price of things goes up, the people on fixed incomes take a cut in income,” Kennedy said.

Foster said last week that council wants to hear from residents so a public discussion and decision can be made that would benefit all residents.

“Personally, I want to hear from the people not affected by the extension,” Foster said. “If they don’t show up (at the Oct. 3 council meeting,) and say they don’t want the $4 increase, I am going to assume they’re OK with it.”

Foster stressed that Callery customers who get service from Evans City will not be affected by these rate changes.