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Proposed water, sewer rates hit the table for opening discussion |
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Wednesday, 28 February 2007 |
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Page 1 of 2 By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
At the city council meeting on Tuesday evening, proposed increases for water, sewer, and garbage rates were introduced for the purpose of discussion.
The numbers put out for consideration were a three (3) percent increase for water which would come to about nine cents per 1,000 gallons or about 96 cents per month more.
Pick up for trash would also see an increase of three (3) percent. The last garbage increase was in 2003 and the last water-sewer increase was in 2005.
The sewer increase is suggested to be 13 percent or about $2.73 per month more, about half the cost of a coffee latté.
Mayor John Shevlin who was not real happy about proposing utility rate increases commented, “We need to finance the upgrade of the sewer lagoon.” A major portion of the funding for the project was lost due to the outcome of the last election
Councilman Gary Brown commented, ”I want to look into this and be a little more educated. I have some questions about the figures, we need to sit down and go over the figures. Right now, I’m not comfortable with the increases.”
Also, Richard Anderson, city public works director, did not have costs available for the council meeting of the annual alley clean up.
Aldermen scheduled a work session for Monday evening at city hall to go over figures for the next council meting.
Before any proposed rates are acted on the city will conduct a pubic meeting for citizens input and comments.
The council took under consideration new fees for use of the pool this summer. They will be looking at a flat rate and the possible use of a punch card.
The mayor noted that the minimum wage and heat usage went up and Anderson added, “Natural gas and power are going up, you need to factor that in.”
Swimming pool fees was tabled until the next council meeting.
The council did act on a recommendation from the police commission and Chief Gary Dent and hired two new police officers, William Prince and Logan Martin. More information on the new policemen will be in the I-O soon.
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