With minimal splash compared to past debates, Iola City Council members approved a series of water rate increases Monday.
The price of water will increase 10 percent beginning May 1, another 10 percent in May 2021 and then 5 percent in 2022.
The rate hikes, approved Monday in a 5-2 vote, are geared to replenish the city’s beleaguered water fund.
The across-the-board hike will apply to all customers.
That means residential customers will pay $4.87 per unit of water (100 cubic feet or 748 gallons), then $5.36 per unit in 2021 and $5.63 in 2022. Wholesale rates for neighboring water districts, including Gas, also will increase 10 percent.
The new meter fees — a flat fee a customer pays regardless of how much water is used — will increase to $25.48 a month; then to $28.02 and finally to $29.42 in 2022.
The goal is to cover annual water treatment and distribution costs, including a $682,000 bond payment for the water plant’s construction; increased investment in the city’s water capital improvements plan and eventually resume transfers to supplement the city’s general fund.
The city’s loan repayment to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for the water plant continues through 2025.
On top of that, City Administrator Sid Fleming has targeted a water utility reserve at about $800,000, which reflects about 90 days operating expenses, plus $250,000 for emergency funding.
Up to now, Council members had been hesitant to implement a series of hikes, voting down a similar plan in 2018.
This time, the plan was approved with much less fanfare, especially after the Council was told in January about looming infrastructure improvement projects, including the eventual replacement of more than 15 miles of water lines, and dealing with issues with water storage towers. Covering all of the projects could cost as much as $17 million, engineers said.
Council members Nancy Ford, Steve French, Gene Myrick, Kim Peters and Carl Slaugh voted in favor of the increase; Ron Ballard and Mark Peters were opposed.
IN A RELATED matter, the Council approved the purchase of six turbidimeters — apparatuses that measure water clarity — at a price of $23,700 from Power Specialists, Inc. The city previously replaced one of the original seven turbidimeters, which were installed when the water plant was constructed.
Water Plant Superintendent Toby Ross told the Council such devices usually have a lifespan of about 10 years; the plant opened 15 years ago.
THE IOLA Police Department brought in about $10,000 following the sale of 10 seized vehicles last summer through an online auction, plus another $1,610 in cash in 2019.
Police Chief Jared Warner discussed with the Council the IPD’s annual asset seizure and forfeiture report.
