For the first time in over a decade, thousands of property owners in Nevada County, outside of Grass Valley and Nevada City, are going to see higher sewer bills for at least the next five years, starting next month. Also acting as the Sanitation District Board of Directors, County Supervisors have given the go-ahead. That’s after there weren’t enough written protests submitted by parcel owners. Wastewater Operations Manager Brad Torres told the Board that they need revenue projections over the next five years to keep up operation and maintenance expenses…

click to listen to Brad Torres

Torres also points out that it’s not possible for all ten zones impacted by the rate hikes to share funding. But Rick Simonson, the Vice-President of the Consulting Group that did the rate study, says it is possible to combine Lake Wildwood, Penn Valley, and Valley Oak Court into one zone…

click to listen to Rick Simonson

Another combined zone would cover Lake of the Pines and Higgins Village. For the first year, rates will go up 118 dollars in Lake Wildwood, 207 in Lake of the Pines, 135 in Penn Valley, 79 in North San Juan, and 49 in Cascade Shores. Rate studies, with more possible increases, will also now be conducted every five years.