Elizabethtown City Council Hears Information On Wastewater Rate Study, Refurbishing Ladder Truck

The Elizabethtown City Council met for their work session last night. The Wastewater Department shared that it is currently working with HDR, Inc to conduct a rate study for the city. “Currently the city is undergoing a rate study. We are looking at this with the anticipated growth in the city. The anticipated date this will be completed is early July. We are anticipating that it will have some changes for the residents of the city. It doesn’t mean that rates are going up. It just means that we’re looking at it to see what needs to be done. After we get the rate study back in July, we will review it internally and have a discussion with the council to see when and if rates will change. It doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen right away. It could be next year, it could be a few months after,” said Director of Wastewater Treatment Corey Bond. It has been ten years since the rates were last reviewed. 
The City Council also heard from the Elizabethtown Fire Department about refurbishing one of the ladder trucks. “If we ordered an Ariel (ladder truck) in July, it would be here in 2026. So really the advantage of refurbishing this truck is a much shorter delivery date. Like I said, we’ll only be without the truck for six months, whereas otherwise, we’re going to be waiting two years on a new ladder (truck). It’s roughly $1.4 million to refurbish the truck. It’ll have a 2024 title, it gets a brand-new engine, transmission, and chassis,” said Elizabethtown Fire Chief Mark Malone. Chief Malone noted that looking at other companies to purchase a new ladder truck, most companies have a 850 to 900 day lead time due to availability of parts. Chief Malone has been in contact with the Radcliff Fire Department about assisting should a need arise and says they have an agreement.