Annual sewer, water rate plan rejected

By Jim Rudisill | Saturday, April 05, 2008

WAPELLO, Iowa — A plan to enact automatic annual sewer and water rate increases was rejected by the Wapello City Council during its April 3 meeting.

Proponents of the plan said the increases would show state grant reviewers the city was serious about helping to pay for mandated sewer system improvements.

The initial proposal called for 4 percent increases unless the council voted not to raise the rates in any year.

Instead of that plan however, council members opted to replace the automatic feature with an annual review of the rates. The new ordinance will be reviewed as part of recodification of the city’s code later this year.

Officials said if the 4 percent rate increase is eventually approved, it will add about $1.50 to the average user’s monthly bill.

In other action, the council accepted a $70,944 low bid from Holmes Concrete, Wapello, to extend Commerce Drive in the Wapello Industrial Park.

In final action, the council approved its 2008-09 budget for the second time. The council initially approved the spending plan on March 6, but was forced to repeat the action after it was discovered the initial publication had not complied with state law.