Gas council raises water, sewer rates

GAS — Gas residents will pay on the average $5 a month more for water and sewer service in 2015.
City council members Tuesday evening approved rate increases for both utilities. Water rates will go up 40 cents per unit for residents living in town and 50 cents per unit for those living outside the city. Sewer rates will increase $1 for the minimum and 25 cents per unit for those outside the city.
Sewer usage is determined by consumption during winter months, when it is lowest.
The water rate increase was in response to Iola raising rates it charges Gas by 30 cents per unit. Council members also took into consideration an admonition by their auditor to increase reserves in both utility funds.
Sewer rates had not been raised since 1999. Water rates, following those charged by Iola, have been raised several times in recent years.
The new rates will take effect with February billings.
A delegation led by Mayor Darrel Catron will ask Allen County commissioners to help with upgrades to the Gas school so part of it may be used for senior citizens activities. The county has put money in senior centers in Iola, Humboldt, LaHarpe and Moran, including construction of Moran’s.
Catron said he would approach county commissioners in mid-January, after more is known about financial need for the community/senior center.
City Superintendent Steve Robb said he was putting together plans to place a peaked metal roof on the building, which he thinks can be done for $30,000 — or less — with the city providing labor. Councilman Larry Robertson asked Robb to provide a list of materials; Robertson said he might be able to provide some of the metal sub-structure.
Council members reappointed Landmark Bank the city’s financial institution and made the Register again its newspaper of record for 2015.
Councilmen Robertson and George Grisier said they would seek re-election to four-year terms in April’s general election. Jane Burns, in the last year of her first term, said she would not seek re-election. Any resident of Gas is eligible to run for election and may do so by contacting Clerk Rhonda Hill at City Hall.