City Council Discusses Water Rate Hikes

Effingham city officials are discussing raising water rates for city and wholesale water customers.

The City conducts research every four years for purposes of setting water rates for the coming four years. Rates have risen by 3% in each of the past four years. The study this year indicates that a 5% annual increase is needed for the coming four years for city water users and a 2.5% increase for wholesale customers.

The City Council is expected to consider approving the water rate increases at one of their meetings in March.

The Council Tuesday purchased additional Christmas light displays that will be used in the Wonderland in Lights display at Community Park and in the downtown area. Also approved was a $21,000 agreement with Vandevanter Engineering for maintenance of the city's sewage collection system lift stations, and allocation of $106,000 in Motor Fuel Tax funds for design engineering on the next phase of the Ford Avenue extension project.

The Council honored Pat Brown as City Employee of the Quarter, and recognized a number of City staffers for employment milestones.

(PAT BROWN RECEIVES HIS EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER AWARD FROM CITY ADMINISTRATOR STEVE MILLER)

Two annexations of property were approved, one of ground in the area of John Boos and Company, the other involving the site of a proposed QuikTrip facility on North 3rd Street at Technology Drive.

There was discussion about a project to separate sanitary and storm sewer at the intersection of 3rd and Market. The project is being discussed ahead of the State's planned resurfacing of 3rd Street, which is US Route 45 in that part of downtown Effingham. Also discussed was a bid letting for pavement replacement on a portion of Outer Belt West, north of Evergreen Avenue.

There was also considerable discussion of definitions of terms for modular and mobile homes to make sure there is compliance with the City's Subdivision Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance.