Hearing held on Redkey rate hike (02/10/2009)

REDKEY - The need to increase water rates by 60 percent was the topic of a public hearing here Monday night.

About a dozen persons in addition to council members attended the session with some of the audience members asking council members to delay making a decision and consider the issue further.

No action was taken on the question Monday night, and Redkey clerk-treasurer Sandy Kirby said a vote is scheduled Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. in town hall, 20 S. Ash St.

The proposed increase would only affect the water use portion of a resident's monthly bill. The sewage and trash collection rates would remain the same. According to the proposed rate hike, a household using 4,000 gallons of water a month would experience an increase in the water usage portion of their bill from $21.84 to $34.94 - a monthly increase of $13.10.

The increased revenue will be used to make improvements in the water system including a new, larger elevated storage tank. The extra revenue will help repay loans and bonds for the project, which is also being funded by state and federal grants.

Also Monday, members of the council gave the go-ahead for a mobile home to be installed along West Logan Street. The request from Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hancock was originally considered at the last council meeting.

The council voted 3-1 Monday to approve the request. Voting in favor were council president Doug Stanley and councilmen Charles Noble and Phil Philebaum. Dottie Quakenbush cast the negative vote. Terry Taylor was absent from the meeting.[[In-content Ad]]