Sewer Averaging Period beginning next week

Hawthorne Utilities is reminding their Hawthorne residential water users of the annual time period for calculating the sewer user and sewer cap on the utility bill. Hawthorne Town Ordinance 132A was adopted July 1991 to bring Mineral County in compliance with State and Federal Laws. It requires the collection of data to support the average of the sewer user and sewer cap fees on your utility bill. The collection period will begin the next meter reading date of Oct. 17, 2017, and continue to Feb. 15, 2018.

Basically, what this means is the sewer user and sewer cap will be based on actual water consumption during the next four months. The average water usage of these four months sets the basic sewer rate for the next eight months. If outside watering continues during this time, it will have an impact on your future utility bills.

Hawthorne Utilities is suggesting that you limit your outside watering starting Oct. 17, 2017, and ending Feb. 15, 2018. A more accurate and fair rate will be calculated by the conscious efforts on the part of the utility customer during this period.

New customers since last years’ collection period have been billed on a minimum estimate. After the collection period, their bill will reflect charges based on the average of actual usage.

This does not affect any business or commercial account. It only affects the residential customers within the town of Hawthorne.

During the averaging period, any outside water breaks in Hawthorne needs to be reported to the Utility Office at 945-2486. The sewer cap and sewer average amounts will be manually calculated to disallow a larger impact from the water break. There is not a reduction for the water usage amounts, only the sewer amounts will be affected.

Sheriff’s Office receives $10K grant

Mineral County Sheriff’s Office has received a $10,000 grant from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety to support traffic safety campaigns during the upcoming grant year.

The Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) awards grant funds to assist the State of Nevada with the Highway Safety Plan. The grant funding officially starts on Oct. 1, 2017, and will run through Sept. 30, 2018. This year’s funding will be used to purchase five new radar units to replace outdated units.

Blood Drive scheduled Oct. 19 at MCHS

Many people will be compelled to give blood in wake of the tragic event in Las Vegas last night. If you are unable to travel to a blood bank to donate, the high school will be sponsoring a blood drive on Oct. 19 at the high school. Although this blood may not go directly to the victims of the shootings, it will be a much-needed boost to blood stores used for those victims. Feel free to schedule an appointed at unitedbloodservices.com.