Union water users will see their bills go up in September.
The Board of Alderman, with very little discussion, accepted Water Superintendent Jonathan Ferguson’s recommendation at Tuesday night’s July meeting and approved a 29 percent increase for Union residents.
Ferguson said the increases had to come.
“Our system is aging. It is not getting any younger and repairs are getting more and more expensive,” he said.
The 854 city residents currently pay an $11.50 base rate for the first 2,000 gallons for water and sewer. That rate will go to $15. The sewer rate will likewise go from $11.50 to $15, making the base rate for the first 2,000 gallons $30 instead of the current $23.
The current rate for water usage for each additional 1,000 gallons is $3. The aldermen’s vote raised that to $4. And, the sewer rate will also rise accordingly, making the total cost $8.00 per 1,000 gallons.
With a $15 garbage fee, Union residents will get a $45 minimum bill each month.
County Line and New Ireland water users will also see their bills got up, too.
Customers of the two rural water associations will see their base for the first 2,000 gallons go from $25 to $28.50 and the rate from each 1,000 gallons go to $5. These users do not have a sewer rate added to their bill.
Mayor Wayne Welch, who raised the spectre of the increase in June, said “You can still look to our neighbors north and south and our rates will still be lower.”
Based on average monthly usage of 6,000 gallons, the 854 city customers in Union will generate and additional $112,728 annually to the water and sewer department.
Alderman Rex Germany looked over Ferguson’s projections and asked, “If we don’t do this raise, are we going to be short by $100,000?”
“Yes. If we don’t raise it, we’re going to be completely out of money and be in a mess,” said Welch.
The Aldermen touched on several other subjects during the 90-minute meeting:
•Accepted a bid of $258,951 from JWB Construction of Taylorsville for mandated improvements to the city’s sewage lagoon system
The project is being funded by a federally funded Community Development Block Grant.
• Got an update from Union grocer Jim Ogletree concerning his plans for a new store and other retail establishments on East Jackson Road.
Ogletree said most of the plans were drawn. “Right now we’re negotiating with some other businesses for space and pretty close to a couple. And, we are trying to get our costs down to more in line with what is affordable,” he said.
Ogletree said that as of yet there is no timetable for construction.
• Rehired city employees for a four-year term: Cheryl Chaney, City Clerk; Billy Pat Walker, Chief of Police; Rex Gordon, City Attorney and Municipal Court Judge; Joan Mulford, Deputy Clerk and Municipal Court Clerk;
Billy, McCune, Mayor Pro-Temp; Jonathan Ferguson, Water & Sewer Superintendent; Mike Smith, Street & Sanitation Superintendent; Beverly Holt, Larry Driskell and Don Thomas, Election Commissioners; Billy Price, Auditor.
• Heard a request from Alderman Billy McCune that the city begin at looking at an expansion of the city limits. He did not offer any details or specifics about what areas or how much territory he thought should be added.
“We need to do something,” he said.
• Cancelled a hearing on unkempt property with Jack Adams, 206 5th St.
• Scheduled hearings in August for unkempt property: 121 Long St., Kimble Young; 421 South Decatur St., Davidson Marble Works, Johnny Sides; and 605 East Jackson Road, Truman Brashier.
