Published: June 25, 2008 08:49 pm      

Water hike planned in Russell

RUSSELL — People and businesses on the Russell water system are about to start paying more.

The Russell City Council on Wednesday introduced a rate hike that will add $1.50 to the bills of residential customers who use the minimum amount, which is 1,000 gallons or less. Their bills would go from $12.50 per month to $14.00.

That accounts for most residential users, according to city clerk Joy Conley.

Users of larger amounts also would pay more; nine cents would be added to the current $2.51 for the next thousand gallons, for instance, and another nine cents per thousand for the next 8,000 gallons.

Russell also supplies much of the water used in Bellefonte, Flatwoods and Raceland and those rates also are to change.

In Bellefonte, users of 1,000 gallons or less, who currently pay $13.00, are to pay $14.50, and larger users also will see increases.

Russell supplies water in bulk to Flatwoods and Raceland. Currently the fee schedule charges $5.50 for the first thousand gallons and lesser increments for additional amounts. That is to change to a flat $1.61 per thousand gallons, which is still projected to bring in more revenue than before.

According to Conley’s estimates, if Russell sells 15 million gallons, it will bring in about $24,000, rather than $19,500 under the current schedule.

The increases are necessary because of increased costs, Mayor William Hopkins said. Russell’s bulk rate remained unchanged since 1993, he said. Residential rates haven’t gone up in several years as well.

Also on Wednesday the council adopted its $3.5 million budget, approved a salary schedule for city employees, and agreed to close part of Riverside Drive for the day on July 4.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2652.