Ione City Council once again postponed a proposed rate approval of the cost per gallon for sewer treatment. Concerns arose regarding the ordinance and the confusing nature of its language, so a fee study was also requested. The last fee study done for the City in regards to this project was back in 2004, and according to City Manager Kim Kerr, “it is in need of an update in the future.” This item will be back for consideration on a future agenda. Ione also approved changes to the Development Agreement with JTS company, developers of the Castle Oaks property.

Council members Sherman and Ulm were both specifically opposed to the sewer connection fees designed to be set regulations for the next 10 years. Councilman Ulm claimed it would be a “windfall to the city” to raise safety fees for new residents of Castle Oaks. The original Development Agreement held the fees paid by new residents set at 3 hundred dollars; however, the new agreement sets the fees at 5 hundred dollars. Councilman Sherman is not opposed to allocating more money for police and fire, although he dislikes what he calls a,“three tier tax bracket in the City and raising taxes unfairly.” He supplemented his answer by stating that “some of the residents of Ione will be paying 5 hundred dollars monthly, some will be paying 3 hundred dollars monthly, and some will be paying nothing. Everyone should pay a fair share.” The Council generally agreed that new development brings new problems which need to be addressed, and that the need for more funds is directly linked to the new residents- so they should front some of those costs.