Waldwick September 19, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 9 The Waldwick Council last week introduced an ordinance raising water rates by an average of 13 percent, but spreading the increase evenly among uses. The public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for the council’s Sept. 25 meeting. The new rates would be effective Oct. 1. “We installed the new water tanks (off Franklin Avenue in Wyckoff), and now we have to pay for them,” explained Councilwoman Anita Bozzo. “It was something we had to do. The tanks were old and had been patched and painted more than once.” Borough Administrator Gary Kratz said he had put off recommending an increase last year because all the bond payments for the tank project were not in place and surplus funds were applied in 2012. “But now, we can’t go on without the increase,” he said. He added that regular infrastructure improvements have kept the Proposed water rate increase will pay for new tank system in good shape so that no additional sizable hikes are expected before the 2015 or 16 budget year. Under the proposed ordinance, the minimum charge for metered water will remain at $29 a quarter, but the gallons included for that price will drop from 2,500 gallons to 1,500 gallons per quarter. The quarterly charges for water supplied above the minimum shall be: $5.35 per additional 1,000 gallons up to 30,000; $5.85 per 1,000 gallons consumed between 30,000 and 65,000 gallons; and $6.96 per 1,000 gallons above that amount. Kratz said that the average consumer, who uses an average of 75,000 gallons of water a year, will see his annual bill increase by $58. The last increase was in 2009. The tank replacement project, which cost nearly $1 million, was financed with a low-interest loan from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust. The new 720,000-gallon concrete tank replaced a World War II vintage tank and another dating back to 1953, both of which were dismantled. With leaf season rapidly approaching, Waldwick is seeking a contractor to handle leaf disposal for the borough and for HoHo-Kus for the upcoming season. The two towns have been sharing a leaf tub grinder at Waldwick’s compost station for more than 20 years. Borough Administrator Gary Kratz explained that the borough is seeking bids for the leaf disposal to give RVH Mulch Supply, LLC of Wyckoff time to pursue its transfer station operation. In June RVH was granted the lease to run the borough’s compost facility behind Borough seeks bids for leaf disposal contract the Boston Market off Wyckoff Avenue for an annual rental payment of $1,350.36. As part of the agreement, the company will also transport free of charge the borough’s leaves and yard debris to an approved state facility for disposal. Waldwick expects to save up to $100,000 a year by getting out of the composting business. RVH plans to use the Waldwick site as a vegetative waste transfer station and for the wholesale sale of finished composted materials, including mulch. But the proposed use requires a use variance and site (continued on page 21)