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Utility study complete; rate changes to be reflected on July billing statementsThe City of Arden Hills recently hired Ehlers, the City’s municipal advisors, to conduct a utility rate study of the water, sewer, and storm- water funds. City policy is to pass on to rate payers—through utility fees—the City's actual operating costs and costs of infrastructure improvements for these utilities. The City annually reviews rates to ensure revenues are not overfunding or underfunding the utility budget. The goal is to break even. Ehlers recommended minor changes to the utility fee structure for all three funds, including the following: combining the water stand-by charge with the meter charge; eliminating the first 15,000 gallons of usage from the base fee for sewer, so rate payers will only pay for what they actually use; and eliminating the fee for undeveloped property in the stormwater fund. The City Council approved the recommendations and adopted a new fee structure at its May 14 regular meeting. Residents and business owners will see new rates reflected on their July utility billing statements. Residents deemed low users of water, those who use 8,000 gallons a quar- ter or less during winter months, can expect to see a decrease in the sewer portion of their quarterly billing state- ments. Residents deemed median users of water, those who use around 12,000 gallons per quarter, can expect an approximate $10 increase in their quarterly billing statements. The majority of Arden Hills’ residents are low or median us- ers of water. Those who use high amounts of water can expect to see higher increases. It’s important to note that utility rates are uniquely structured across cities, and city policies regarding fee usage differ. Some cities use their utility fees to help with their city’s general fund balance, while others, like Arden Hills, use the collected fees to repair aging sewer and water infrastructure. Comparing rates across cities doesn’t tell the whole story. Changes in population, topog- raphy, age of existing infrastructure, source of water and water treatment processes, are variables that can impact utility billing rates. If you have questions about your utility bill, please call City Hall during regular business hours at 651-792-7800. If you have buckthorn in your yard, the Public Works staff will pick it up from your curb through the end of October, or you can take it to the Ramsey County Yard Waste collec- tion site off of New Brighton Road at 3530 Hudson Av- enue. Buckthorn is an invasive species that negatively impacts local plant life diversity. To schedule a pick up, please call City Hall at 651-792-7800, or visit cityofardenhills.org to fill out the online form for City staff to pick it up from your curb. The Public Works Department will pick up buckthorn from residential homes on Fridays. Residents are required to place the buckthorn in neat, manageable piles along the street curb. Please note that Did you know the stormdrain on your street or in your backyard is directly connected to a neighborhood lake, pond or wetland? Water and pollution entering the drain are not cleaned or otherwise treated. Whatever goes down the drain, goes into nearby lakes and ponds. Whatever is left on the street, sidewalk or driveway, will be washed into the lake when it rains. Even seem- ingly harmless substances, such as grass clippings and soaps, can have a dramatic effect on water quality. Help keep our local lakes, wetlands and ponds clean by sweeping all spilled substances or pollution off driveways, sidewalks and streets. Never pour any- thing down the stormdrain. “Only rain down the drain.” only buckthorn will be accepted. Alternatively, you can bring the buckthorn piles to the Ramsey County Yard Waste Collection site, located off of New Brighton Road at 3530 Hudson Avenue. The site is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information, please contact Jeff Frid at 651-792-7852. For infor- mation on what buckthorn is and why it is a problem, please visit dnr.state. mn.us and search for buckthorn. If you are doing additional spring yard cleanup, you can bring your yard waste to the Arden Hills yard waste collection and compost site, too. Ramsey County operates seven yard waste collection sites. All sites are free and open to all county residents. For locations, visit ramseycounty.us/ yardwaste. Buckthorn pick-up and yard waste site hours Stormdrains are for rainwater only; watch for pollutants