Caledonia Argus

City adjusts water, sewer rates

Posted: 1/16/02

by Jane Palen
Managing Editor

Water and sewer rates will be increasing in the city this year, the city council decided Monday evening. In addition, the council was informed that the rates for cable television will also increase.

Effective February 1, the base rate for water meters will increase, while the usage rate will decrease.

Current rates for a 5/8 to 3/4 inch water meter service are $7.85 per month. After February 1, that rate will increase to $8.24 per month. There are 1,189 meters of this size in the city.

The rate for 1-inch service will increase from $8.85 to $16.48 per month, and the rate for a 1 1/4 inch service will increase from $8.85 per month to $24.72.

For 1 1/2 inch service, the rate will increase from $10.10 per month to $32.96, and for 2-inch service the new rate will be $57.67 per month, up from $10.10. For 3-inch service, the monthly base rate will increase from $11.85 to $131.82 per month. Only two businesses in the city have the three-inch service.

The rate for actual water usage, however, will decrease from $1.25 per cubic foot to $0.91 for all size services.

Based on a comparison prepared by City Clerk Administrator Robert Nelson, most households will see an increase of $2.50 to $3 more per month for water, while businesses with a large capacity and higher use will be hardest hit.

The changes are expected to generate about $275,000 per year for the city water fund, $40,000 of which will be transferred to the general fund. Other uses include maintenance and upgrade of city water services including water meter repair, well rehabilitation and reservoir repainting.

Beginning May 1, rates for sewer usage will increase as well. The date corresponds with the cityís second billing cycle of the year.

Usage rates will increase from $1.50 per cubic foot to $1.70 per cubic foot. The city engineering firm had recommended an increase to $1.96 cf.

Basic rates determined by the type of service include $3.90 for a 5/8 meter, up from $3.58; $7.80 for a 1 inch service, up from $6.91; $11.70 for a 1 1/4 inch service , up from $10.24; $15.60 for an 1 1/2 inch, up from $13.57; $27.30 for 2-inch service, up from $23.56 and $62.40 for 3-inch service, up from $53.53.

The city has created a system replacement fund which will receive about $75,000 per year from the charges. The fund will be used for inspection, rehabilitation or replacement of existing sanitary sewer mains or laterals, and correction of existing deficiencies related to clean water infiltration.

The rates also include a repayment of $160,657 from the sewer fund to the general fund over the next five years.

ìIf we donít take the bull by the horns now, it will be a killer down the road,î commented Mayor Robert Burns.

The council agreed unanimously on both increases.

Cable rates to increase

In other news, the council was informed by its cable franchise, MediaCom, that rates for cable services will be increasing on February 1.

Under the new rates, family cable service is $36.95 per month, not including equipment rental. Premium channels are from $5.95 to $13.95 per month.

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