Council tables rate change

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Residents of Brundidge will have to wait a while longer to find out their new electric, water, sewer and garbage rates.

This comes after the city council made changes Tuesday to an ordinance concerning the rates and decided to further discuss it at the Dec. 15 meeting.

Some of the changes made to the ordinance included decreases to the fixed flat fee on electric bills, as well as an increase in the fee new residents are charged to have the electricity activated.

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The proposed fixed flat fee is now $24, down from the previous proposed amount of $26. That change, as well other minor changes sets the proposed average bill at $118 for 1,000 kilowatt-hours, down from the current average bill of $123.96.

According to City Manager Brit Thomas, the bill should not see too much fluctuation over the next 12 months.

“This rate is set for a year,” Thomas said.

“If it is adjusted, it will be adjusted through the energy cost adjustment fuel charge.”

Also changed were the proposed fees for new water and sewer taps, as well as the proposed deposit for a new water, sewer and garbage account.

The proposed fee for a new water tap is $350, up from the current fee of $175. The proposed new sewer tap fee is $550, up from the current charge of $225.

“As far as new taps go, we’ve probably had less than 10 in the last 3-4 years,” Thomas said.

“Anything we did do to these fees would be an improvement.”

The proposed deposit is $50, up from the current deposit of $25.

In other business, Thomas informed the council the library renovation project will soon be helped by a $40,000 grant from the Alabama Library Association.

“After the Nov. 3 council meeting, I was told the library had a chance to apply for some money to help with the renovations,” Thomas said.

“The library was approved for $40,000 of funding, with the city only having to match $1200.”

The money must be spent by June 30 of 2010, and is currently slated to be used for a variety of projects, such as strengthening the floor and installing insulation.

“That money will really help us move forward toward making it look like one building in the end,” Thomas said.

The council will next meet on December 15, but will meet at 1:15 p.m. at Brundidge Station, rather than at 4 p.m. at City Hall.