Mentone Council Considering Water Rate Increases
May 4, 2023 at 2:00 a.m.
By Jackie [email protected]
In the ordinance, the metered rates per month are for the first 7,000 gallons, $8.78 per month; next 11,000 gallons, $7.18 per month; next 18,000 gallons, $5.12; next 40,000 gallons, $4.60; over 100,000 gallons, $3.58.
The ordinance also states each user will pay a minimum charge in accordance with the size of the meter installed, which is $20.50 for a 5/8- to 3/4-inch line, $26.35 for a 1-inch line, $35.15 for a 1-1/2-inch line, $52.75 for a 2-inch line, $75.85 for a 3-inch line, $102.35 for a 4-inch line and $170.55 for a 6-inch line.
In February, Ross Hagan, a certified public accountant from Baker Tilly, went over the water rate study Baker Tilly did for the town. For 4,000 gallons, a resident’s bill would be about $27.44 a month. Hagan said after a pro-rate increase, the rate was suggested to be increased to $35, or 28%.
Wednesday, Yaprak said her intent was for council members to look over the ordinance and make any changes to it, then the council will officially introduce the ordinance in June.
Town attorney Andrew Grossnickle said the first step in raising the water rate is to introduce the ordinance officially. The council will then have to advertise for a public hearing on the rate raise. Once the council has a hearing, the council can approve the raise in the rate if they decide to go that way.
The council decided the ordinance would officially be introduced during the June 5 meeting and a public hearing will be held at the July 5 meeting.
Later in the meeting, Town Marshal Jim Eads brought some information to the council’s attention.
The police department has being using WatchGuard for their dash cameras and body cameras. The company was bought out by Motorolla. It had been a free subscription, which is ending in the near future.
Eads said to download video from the cameras, they will need a Linux-based server or download it to the Cloud. The server would cost $6,000.
On top of that, each camera the police department has would have a yearly user license of $195. The police department has a total of five cameras - two dash cameras and three body cameras - and that would be a yearly user license of $975.
The cameras the police department currently have are “end-of-life.” Eads said they could use WatchGuard’s library to view things on the cameras, but the cameras are no longer supported as of Dec. 31, 2022.
Eads said he doesn’t know what options are available. He said, in the future, the council will get more information on the situation. No action was taken Wednesday.
In other business, the council:
• Approved the bid for $138,283.72 from LI Excavating for the Washington Street storm tile project.
• Heard from Yaprak that building the town’s website is going well. The website is not live yet. However, she is working on the ordinance book for the website and she will get with Eads and Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd about filling in information for the police department and utilities department.
• Heard there will be an extra trash day on May 20.
Councilman Tim Croy suggested people put trash out the day before because the trucks will start collecting trash at 6 a.m. and they want to be done in two hours.
Items that will not be picked up include bricks, batteries, electronics, tires and batteries. Residents are allowed to have one large item to be picked up.
• Approved advertising for bids to pave roads with Community Crossing grant money the town was awarded.
In the ordinance, the metered rates per month are for the first 7,000 gallons, $8.78 per month; next 11,000 gallons, $7.18 per month; next 18,000 gallons, $5.12; next 40,000 gallons, $4.60; over 100,000 gallons, $3.58.
The ordinance also states each user will pay a minimum charge in accordance with the size of the meter installed, which is $20.50 for a 5/8- to 3/4-inch line, $26.35 for a 1-inch line, $35.15 for a 1-1/2-inch line, $52.75 for a 2-inch line, $75.85 for a 3-inch line, $102.35 for a 4-inch line and $170.55 for a 6-inch line.
In February, Ross Hagan, a certified public accountant from Baker Tilly, went over the water rate study Baker Tilly did for the town. For 4,000 gallons, a resident’s bill would be about $27.44 a month. Hagan said after a pro-rate increase, the rate was suggested to be increased to $35, or 28%.
Wednesday, Yaprak said her intent was for council members to look over the ordinance and make any changes to it, then the council will officially introduce the ordinance in June.
Town attorney Andrew Grossnickle said the first step in raising the water rate is to introduce the ordinance officially. The council will then have to advertise for a public hearing on the rate raise. Once the council has a hearing, the council can approve the raise in the rate if they decide to go that way.
The council decided the ordinance would officially be introduced during the June 5 meeting and a public hearing will be held at the July 5 meeting.
Later in the meeting, Town Marshal Jim Eads brought some information to the council’s attention.
The police department has being using WatchGuard for their dash cameras and body cameras. The company was bought out by Motorolla. It had been a free subscription, which is ending in the near future.
Eads said to download video from the cameras, they will need a Linux-based server or download it to the Cloud. The server would cost $6,000.
On top of that, each camera the police department has would have a yearly user license of $195. The police department has a total of five cameras - two dash cameras and three body cameras - and that would be a yearly user license of $975.
The cameras the police department currently have are “end-of-life.” Eads said they could use WatchGuard’s library to view things on the cameras, but the cameras are no longer supported as of Dec. 31, 2022.
Eads said he doesn’t know what options are available. He said, in the future, the council will get more information on the situation. No action was taken Wednesday.
In other business, the council:
• Approved the bid for $138,283.72 from LI Excavating for the Washington Street storm tile project.
• Heard from Yaprak that building the town’s website is going well. The website is not live yet. However, she is working on the ordinance book for the website and she will get with Eads and Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd about filling in information for the police department and utilities department.
• Heard there will be an extra trash day on May 20.
Councilman Tim Croy suggested people put trash out the day before because the trucks will start collecting trash at 6 a.m. and they want to be done in two hours.
Items that will not be picked up include bricks, batteries, electronics, tires and batteries. Residents are allowed to have one large item to be picked up.
• Approved advertising for bids to pave roads with Community Crossing grant money the town was awarded.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092