April 14, 2023 at 9:40 a.m.
Center City water, sewer rates increase
The hike is necessary to get the water account out of the red and build reserves for the wastewater side of the ledger for future needs. Sewer and Water Committee liaisons Lloyd Vetter and Mark Wolcott advised their fellow council members the water revenues were depleted using extra labor hours last year in replacing obsolete meter equipment. Future expenses on the sewer system are anticipated due to aging components at lift stations and other needs.
The base fee for water has been $35 for up to 8,000 gallons per quarter. This will become $40. Billing for every 1,000 gallons used beyond the base has been at $1.55, and this was approved to go to $1.75 per thousand gallons. Sewer is billed now at a flat rate of $50 and this is going to $55 and the additional “flow” charge is being raised to $4.10 from $3.70.
Council member Vetter noted rates haven’t been adjusted for five years.
Center City also needs to write new code addressing the changing landscape for THC and cannabinoid products.
The city has no municipal ordinances addressing or permitting the sales, manufacture, distribution or testing of these products. A year-long halt (or however long it takes to get an ordinance in place) is now blocking any applications related to this product, as the city looks into regulations and conditions for this business.
City Attorney Ted Alliegro said this is a “halt” of one year it is not a ban. He explained, “The city has nothing in place” specifically referencing state law advancements and evolving legal issues, some of which are still under review by the state legislature.
Council member Garrett Boulineau was the lone no vote on instituting the moratorium, and he commented that he’d like ordinance development finished “sooner than later.”
The fire department annual update was provided. Membership is pretty healthy at 19 firefighters with two more in training. The department took 152 calls (First Responders and incidents) in 2022 and about one third were inside the city limits. There will be a special exercise later this month, coordinated with the property owner, for burning down the vacant residence on the hill overlooking Highway 8 known as the “Moody House.” Fire fighters will use the event for official training hours and other departments are involved. Hazardous materials, anything of value and appliances have all been removed.
And, if you notice smoke and flames just outside of town, the city compost and brush pile northeast of the city is also planned to be burned— before snow cover is completely gone. The city maintains access to the location for residents to dispose of organic yard debris by request.
The fire department got council okay for their liquor permit for Center City Days, which are July 28-30. And council was advised a new air compressor is being delivered and the old one removed, for $23,000 approximately. It is used to fill breathing apparatus and for other tasks.
~ City Public Works expects last year’s seasonal employee to return and hours were approved.
~ Clerk Dana Miron got authorization to attend a clerk’s conference in Duluth this summer. The event is $225 and the two-night stay $280.
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