The Mountain Home City Council approved ordinances amending the schedule of rates to be charged and collected for water and sewer system users at Thursday night’s meeting. With Mayor Joe Dillard out of town, and Alderman Rick Pierce absent, City Clerk Brian Plumlee presided over the meeting as Mayor Pro Tem.
The City Council adopted two ordinances adopting a water increase of two percent and an increase of two percent to sewer. According to Water & Sewer Director Alma Clark, the average monthly water bill for 2000 gallons or less will go up $0.60 and $0.88 for 4500 gallons. Mayor Joe Dillard says the rates haven’t been raised since 2009. A study was done by Garver Engineers recommending an even higher rate increase by 20 percent. The two ordinances were passed unanimously with the exception of Alderman Don Webb voting no on both.
Plumlee commended the council for waiting for two weeks and allowing public input on the matter noting taxpayers inside the city limits deserve to have say on how their taxes are spent.Under new business the council unanimously approved a request to auction off a Water & Sewer 1985 Dodge Flatbed, a 2008 Silverado, along with several other items. The council also approved moving $17,000 out of the Parks & Recreation Maintenance Sports line item to the maintenance of the city pool and for a pool repair.
At the end of the meeting, Plumlee recognized several individuals in the audience who addressed concerns about the pool closing early on August first of this year. Parks & Recreation Director Billy D. Austin explained to the audience he had to make certain cuts this year in order to stay within his budget. Austin later noted it would take about an additional $24,000 to keep the pool open an additional month.
A petition is circulating urging the city to keep the pool open during the month of August.
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