The Bourbon Town Council held a public hearing over a proposed water rate ordinance when they met this month.
The council members received a presentation from Umbaugh representative Eric Walsh, who explained the basis for the proposed water rates.
Draft minutes from last Tuesday’s meeting indicate that Walsh told the members that while the sewer rates didn’t need adjusting, there were some changes that had to be made to the water rates over the next few years.
He explained that in 2018 and 2019, a 3.5 percent increase is required and there will need to be a 3 percent increase in 2020. He noted that the total increase would amount to approximately $2.24 on the average bill over the course of all three years.
Council President Les McFarland commented that the increased rates seemed reasonable compared to other communities of similar size and Walsh expressed that the rate is still well below the state average.
No questions or comments were provided by members of the public, so the hearing was closed.
Later on in the meeting, an ordinance that would implement the proposed changes was presented. A motion was passed to suspend the rules to consider the ordinance on all three readings and members went on to approve it a unanimous vote.
Clerk-Treasurer Kim Berger noted that this increase will go into effect with water consumption in the month of August, so residents won’t see the change until they get their bills in September.
