|
|
|
|
Benton sewer rates go up |
|
|
Tuesday, 23 June 2009 |
Beginning in July, Benton Utilities customers’ sewer charges will be higher.
The City Council, in a meeting Monday night, approved a revised rate increase ordinance on all of its required three readings and adopted an emergency clause, making it effective with the next month’s billing.
Terry McKinney, general manager of Benton Utilities, said the average increase for customers will be $3.38 a month.
Alderman Larry Wolf cast the only “no” vote, although another will be recorded for Alderman Brad Moore because of his absence.
Benton Public Utility Commission recommended the rate increase several months ago in order for the system to produce revenues sufficient to pay for the system’s operation and maintenance expenses.
The increase will fund the system’s portion of funded depreciation costs and pay a portion of debt service, the ordinance states.
The ordinance also notes that all users of the systems will be charged $3.10 for the first 2,000 gallons or portion thereof of average monthly water consumption and $4.80 per 1,000 gallons or portion thereof of average monthly water consumption.
Determination of water consumption by residential customers is based upon the average monthly water consumption of the customer for the preceding months of October, November, December, January, February and March. In the case of residential customers who do not have an established usage for the six months, a monthly charge of $30 is made until a six-month winter time frame is established.
Commercial and industrial customers are billed on actual water consumption unless a levelized bill is requested and approved by the general manager of Benton Utilities.
The ordinance approved by the council eliminated an annual 2 percent increase that was part of a previous ordinance considered and approved on two readings.
The ordinance was presented by Alderman Jerry Ponder, who serves as the council’s liaison to the PUC.
Ponder said he believes that the ordinance “hopefully addresses all concerns to this point.”
Alderman Greg White noted that approving the rate increase involved a “long procedure ... and I think we probably have it right this time.”
White pointed out that when the PUC was established, it was not given the authority to establish rate increases. The council remains charged with that responsibility, he said.
Don White, who has announced his candidacy for mayor in 2010, was the only person to speak against the ordinance.
“I think the city can find the money if they look for it,” White said. Then he added that he could not support the ordinance because he recently went to Longhills Golf Course on a Friday afternoon and saw Lamont Cornwell, the city’s new community development director, playing golf.
He said Mayor Rick Holland also was at the golf course that day.
Alderman Doug Stracener responded by saying that White’s remarks were not germane to the discussion on the sewer ordinance and should be considered out of order.
Holland explained that Cornwell had participated in a benefit golf tournament for the Christian Community Care Clinic and that he had gone to the course to have lunch at the event.
“I don’t play golf,” he said. “I was there supporting the Christian Community Care Clinic.”
Industrial customers who use water that is not returned to the sewer system will not be billed for sewer service on that portion of their bill, the ordinance notes.
In another matter, Rob Livers was appointed to fill a vacancy on the PUC. Livers, an electrical engineer who owns Livers Electric, will complete the term vacated because of the death of Frank Large.
His term will run through Dec. 3, 2012.
In other action, a resolution creating the Tim Blocksom Employee of the Year Award was approved by the council.
Blocksom, who was employed with the city for more than 20 years, suffered a fatal heart attack May 9.
He served in several capacities, including a police officer, director of communications and 911 coordinator.
The award was suggested by Alderman Bill Donnor, chairman of the council’s Personnel Committee. Donnor developed the city’s monthly employee recognition program.
The resolution creating the award noted that Blocksom “made numerous sacrifices of his time around the clock” to ensure the safety and security of local residents.
The resolution also noted that Blocksom “tempered the seriousness of his responsibilities with laughter and filled City Hall with humor” and noted that his passing “has created a huge void within the city.”
The individual who will receive the annual award will be selected among the 12 employees named as Employee of the Month by the council’s Personnel Committee. It will be awarded during the last meeting of the month in January each year.
Preceding the 7 p.m. council meeting was a 6:50 p.m. public hearing to consider an ordinance, subsequently approved, that vacates and closes a portion of North East Street between the north right-of-way of South McNeil and the south right-of-way of Interstate 30 to provide for improvements already made at Saline Memorial Hospital.
No new projects are planned for the area, but the street never was officially vacated, city officials said.
Alderman Joe Lee Richards, who has been absent several weeks because of serious surgery, was welcomed back to the council.
|
|
|
|
Razorbacks
