Water rate ordinance read

JASPER — The Jasper City Council read a new water rate ordinance for the first time during its regular meeting Thursday, March 20. Since it would not go into effect until 2026, the council decided to table the proposed law for further consideration and will take it up again in April. At that time the council may place the ordinance on its second reading and could also suspend the rules and place it on its third and final reading before voting for its formal adoption.
For some time, the city has imposed an annual 5% increase to its water rate structure to bring revenues in line with costs to operate the water department. In the past, other city revenues made up the difference between the actual cost of water and operating the system and the amount of money collected by water customers. The state ruled the city could not continue to do that.
Mayor Michael Thomas announced to the council last month city water collections no longer need subsidized and the 5% annual increase is no longer necessary. He said he was having a new ordinance prepared by the city's solicitor.
The new water rate ordinance was presented Thursday. It eliminates the annual 5% increase and will only pass along the cost of water the city buys directly from the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority (OMRPWA) which sets its rates annually and bills its customers, or any state required increases in water rates, Thomas explained.
He said the ordinance will not restrict the council from making increases in the future should an unforeseen need arise, but that increase would hopefully be less than 5% and would not have to be a continued increase.
Thomas said improvements to the system through the replacement of old waterlines and the addition of new ones has reduced the number of leaks and increased water sales allowing the standing 5% increase to be discontinued.
The ordinance as read states the rates are based on low usage and high usage (5,000 gallons or greater).
The low volume rate for the first 1,000 gallons or less per month is $33.82 and the cost of water per 1,000 gallons in excess of 1,000 gallons per month costs $8.25.
The high volume rate for the first 1,000 gallons is $44.32. All water consumption per excess of 1,000 gallons per month is $8.25.

Mayor Thomas announced the new scoreboards are up and operational at Bradley Park's baseball and softball fields. The scoreboards were purchased through a state grant. The city partnered with the Jasper School District to provide the matching portion of the grant. The Jasper High School boys baseball and girls softball programs use the fields.
The mayor reported that an application has ben submitted to the state for funds to purchase a new truck and salt spreader.
He said the truck purchased by the city to haul sludge from the waste water treatment plan is one the job. The city discontinued contracting the service and now city workers use the new truck to transport the sewer plant's chemically treated sludge to a certified landfill at Cherokee Village.
A waterline extension project is 75% completed and the bid opening for the waste water plant improvements has been delayed to March 27 at 2 p.m. at City Hall.
The city has put up for sale an old brush truck, a Ford Expedition and an old generator. Those items will be advertised and any bids received will be opened April 7 at 2:30 p.m.
A drainage project in the city has also begun on right-of-way property.
The council approved the annual financial statement for 2024.
The monthly financial report was accepted as well as the monthly police department report.