“Last budget work session we spoke about the possibility of including a rate increase on the water fees,” said Taylor Finance Director Gus Lundberg at the June 6 town council meeting.
He explained that they were discussing increasing the base rate from $10 to $15 per month, and increasing the volume rate per 1,000 gallons from 90 cents to $1.
Lundberg further explained capital improvement projects that are needed and noted that the water fund does not have $456,000 necessary for the projects, which include the generator at the Rolling Hills Well; replacing the storage tank at Rolling Hills; water system modeling; pressure reduction valves for the Hole in the Hill well into the main system; and the storage tank facility on the east side of town.
He recommended that the council set a date and time for a public hearing at the next council meeting, noting that it must be advertised for two weeks and if the council adopted the rate increase, it would become effective in 30 days.
Town Manager Eric Duthie pointed out that the first Wednesday of July is Independence Day.
A motion to adopt a notice of intent to adjust water rates passed unanimously, and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11, was set as the time for a public hearing on the proposed rate increase.
A public hearing on the town’s tentative budget for fiscal year 2012-13 was also set for 7 p.m. on July 11.
The council unanimously approved the tentative budget of just over $7.1 million. Lundberg explained that approval of the tentative budget meant that the overall amount cannot increase and that this amount would more than likely not be spent, but any grants or possible revenues must be included in the budget in order to allow the town to spend those funds if they are received.
Lundberg said that state forms that summarize the funds will be published for two weeks, and that information would be available on the town website and copies are available for review at town hall.
Duthie encouraged citizens to attend the public hearing and express their opinions, noting that town officials are very interested in public input.
In other business June 6, council:
* Unanimously approved a liquor license for Pizza Hut, located at 520 N. Main St.
Ownership of the business has changed, and the new owners are requesting the same liquor license that currently exists.
* Awarded a contract to Hatch Asphalt Maintenance to stripe roads after the slurry seal was completed.
Councilman Jared Hatch abstained from the vote due to a conflict of interest.
* Tabled approval of a contract award for the fog seal project, noting the slurry seal would be sufficient.
* Unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation for improvements and pavement overlay on a section of Love lake Road.
Town Engineer Stu Spaulding reported that bid requests for the project would be advertised in approximately 18 months, and work would begin in the spring of 2014.
