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PSC OKs 22% water rate hike |
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Written by Mark Jaeger
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Wednesday, 08 September 2010 17:54 |
The Public Service Commission has approved the Village of Saukville’s request for a 22% hike in municipal water rates.
The ruling came last week, following a public hearing before the PSC in Madison on Aug. 18.
The new rate will go into effect in the quarterly billing cycle that begins Oct. 1.
Local officials said the increase, which was unanimously recommended by the Village Board, is needed to make up for the reduced use of water by businesses that have cut back on production because of the economy.
According to documents submitted to the state, the water utility would generate operating revenues of just over $1 million — about $206,000 less than needed to cover costs if rates were not increased.
The village estimated that for a household that uses an average of 18,000 gallons of water a quarter, the rate increase will cost an additional $12.13.
Even with the hike, Saukville’s water rates will be lower than in Port Washington and Mequon, according to figures provided by the PSC, although higher than the charges in Grafton, Fredonia and Belgium.
Village water rates were increased by 3% in October 2009 and October 2008, but those hikes were not subject to PSC review.
Water bills were also adjusted this year, when the village shifted the charge for fire protection — in the form of fire hydrant charges — from the property tax bill to the water bill.
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Wine dealer plan OK’d by CDA for business park |
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Written by Mark Jaeger
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Wednesday, 01 September 2010 16:05 |
Warehouse will serve as base for distribution throughout Wisconsin
It won’t be replacing Napa Valley anytime soon, but Saukville is on the verge of becoming a regional wine hub.
The Village of Saukville’s Community Development Authority approved plans last week submitted by MShiraz Wines of Wisconsin to build a distribution center at the Progress Development Condominiums, 650 N. Progress Dr.
Owner Mark Schraith intends to build a 6,525-square-foot metal building that will become the central warehouse for his wine business.
Schraith said MShiraz, which is currently based in Milwaukee, specializes in Wisconsin wines from such vineyards as von Stiehl Winery in Algoma, White Winter Winery in Iron River and
Seven Hawks Vineyards in Fountain City. It also distributes an extensive line of wines from South Africa and selections from X Winery in Napa, Calif.
He said the company supplies wines to liquor stores and groceries across 75% of the state. It has recently begun distributing wine to bars and restaurants, a move that is expected to double business over the next 18 months.
Condo project developer Phil Steinke told the CDA that the business owners have two priorities with their building plan — accessible storage space and security.
Because of that last concern, the preliminary building design has already been modified to eliminate eight skylights originally planned for the warehouse area.
The rooftop windows are seen as a vulnerable spot for anyone looking to break into the storage area, Steinke said.
Delivery trucks will also be parked inside the warehouse.
“There won’t be much in the line of employees. There will be two or three people to load the trucks and then they will be out on their routes,” Steinke said.
“Their experience in Milwaukee has been, if you load a truck with wine and leave it outside overnight, it won’t be there in the morning. That’s why the trucks will be parked inside.”
The side of the building fronting Progress Drive will be made of split-faced masonry block, with the remaining three walls constructed of insulated, prefabricated metal frames that look like ceramic.
The exterior will have accents of red, echoing the color used on the corkscrew in the company’s logo.
The CDA unanimously approved the building and site plans, which include landscaping with a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees and three dozen shrubs.
MShiraz plans to move into its new building in November.
Progress Development Condominiums were created in 2006 to give start-up businesses a setting to launch their enterprises. With the wine distribution center, the project is 75% occupied.
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