The Mountain Home City Council Thursday night heard the first reading of an ordinance for proposed increases for residential and commercial water and sewer customers in Mountain Home. In addition, increases are proposed for those who purchase their water through the Northeast, Gassville/Cotter, and Lakeview/Midway districts.
The proposals call for 1.8 percent increases in both the water and sewer rates for Mountain Home customers. In addition, wholesale water rates would also increase at varying levels. Records indicate both water and sewer rates were raised 2 percent in June 2017. The wholesale water rates were increased in June 2016.
The proposed increases were referred to the council by the water and sewer committee. Membership of the committee consists of Water and Sewer Director Alma Clark and Councilmen Rick Pierce, Carl Graves, Jennifer Baker, and Eva Frame.
Pierce, Frame and Dave Almond were absent from Thursday night’s meeting.
The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for the April 5th council meeting.
City Clerk Brian Plumlee says this will give the public more time to process the proposed rate increases and give the council feedback.
If the rules are suspended during April’s meeting, the ordinances could be placed on their third reading and considered for adoption.
At Northeast, an increase of 13 cents per 1,000 gallons of water used per month is proposed, taking the rate from $3.91 to $4.04. At Gassville, an increase of 13 cents per 1,000 gallons of water used per month is proposed, taking the rate from $4.42 to $4.58. At Lakeview/Midway Public Water Authority, a 17-cent increase is proposed per 1,000 gallons of water used per month, taking the rate from $4.66 to $4.83.
In other council news, the proposed resolution expressing the willingness of the city to utilize state aid street monies for street overlay work passed unanimously.
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