DECATUR — After a public hearing lasting nearly 90 minutes, the Decatur City Council passed the wastewater rate increase ordinance during its regular meeting in the conference room at Decatur City Hall on Oct. 10.
Twenty representatives from Simmons, the city of Centerton, and the city of Decatur gathered in the conference room at 5:30 p.m. for the second public hearing on the rate increase ordinance, the first of which was Sept. 19.
During the public hearing, the council heard from three Simmons representatives who were concerned that the city was moving too fast on this issue. They expressed the need to slow down and not rush into this increase. They argued that there is no reason for a rate increase at this time and that further study is needed before the city votes to accept the new ordinance.
Centerton officials, including Mayor Bill Edwards, addressed the needs to upgrade the plant now and not wait until problems occur that might hinder the efficient operation of the facility.
The rate increase is necessary to allow the city to refinance two of the city's old bonds, which were used to construct the current wastewater facility and to upgrade the plant to keep pace with growth in the Decatur-Centerton area. The refinance portion of the ordinance is expected to save the citizens of Decatur between $700,000 and $800,000 over the next several years.
The city of Centerton, during its Sept. 13 council meeting, passed an addendum to the original Decatur-Centerton Wastewater Treatment Contract to accept the new rate increase.
In a 4 to 1 vote and with rules suspended, the Decatur City Council passed the rate increase on its second and final readings (the first reading was conducted at the Sept. 12 council session). The new sewer, which is based on water consumption in gallons (per 1,000 gallons ), will go into effect Dec. 1.
For residential and commercial users, the sewer rates will use the following scale:
0-1000 gallons $7.20
1,000-10,000 gallons $3.64
10,000-50,000 gallons $3.34
50,001 plus gallons $3.24
For new industrial users the rate is set as follows:
0-1,000 gallons $7.20
1,000-10,000 gallons $3.64
10,000-50,000 gallons $3.34
50,000-300,000 gallons $3.24
300,001 plus gallons $4.22
In other council business, the council voted to accept David Sutton's resignation from the Ward 2, Position 2, slot on the Decatur City Council effective immediately. Sutton cited his new job schedule as the reason for his resignation.
In a related action, the council voted to temporarily fill the Ward 2, Position 2, opening with Bill Montgomery. Montgomery will complete the remainder of Sutton's term.
The Decatur City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in the meeting room at Decatur City Hall in Decatur. The first 30 minutes of each meeting is open to public comment. Any Decatur resident who wishes to bring a concern to the council can contact the city clerk.
For more information, contact the Decatur City Office at 479-752-3912.
General News on 10/19/2016