Pevely water and sewer customers soon will see their rates increase by about 1 percent, beginning during this month’s billing periods. It is the first rate increase in 10 years.
The increases will take effect starting with June billing periods.
Pevely Board of Aldermen members voted 7-1 on May 2 to approve both the water and sewer rates. Ward 4 Alderman Bryan Eckles cast the only no vote on both motions.
Eckles said he voted against the motion because of the current economic climate.
“I felt like it was the wrong time for an increase after the city voted down the use tax (in the April 5 election),” Eckles said. “I think it’s the wrong time to go after more money from the residents, especially considering the economy. I could possibly be for it in six months or a year, if we looked at it again.”
Mayor Stephanie Haas said Pevely officials previously had a water and sewer rate study completed, but did not raise the rates as recommended at that time.
“I believe it was 2012 that was the last time we raised the water and sewer rates,” she said. “At the time, we did a 10-year rate study. (The board) was supposed to increase the rates by 3 percent every year after the 2012 increase. The boards elected every year to not do that.
“We’re still not even close to the rates we should have if we’d raised the rates every year.”
Haas said the city continues to maintain its water and sewer systems on its current funding, but reserves need to be built up to address the system’s future needs.
City Administrator Andy Hixson said the extra funding is needed to address “aging” infrastructure.
He also said the city needs to place permanent structures over some water wells.
The water system has about $1 million in reserves and the sewer district has about $6 million in reserves at present, Hixson said.
The rate increases should add $8,900 to the municipal water fund each year and $19,000 to the sewer fund annually, he said.
With the increase in place, Pevely city residents will see their minimum bills for the first 2,000 gallons of water used rise from $15.71 to $15.87 a month. The monthly price for water used in excess of 2,000 gallons goes from $3.94 per 1,000 gallons used to $3.98 per 1,000 gallons used.
The commercial/industrial water charge is based on meter size. Starting with 5/8-inch meters, the monthly price for the minimum 2,000 gallons will increase from $15.71 to $15.87, with the top level for 10-inch meters increasing from $262.62 to $265.32. The commercial/industrial monthly price for water used in excess of 2,000 gallons also goes from $3.94 per 1,000 gallons to $3.98 per 1,000 gallons used.
The residential monthly sewer rate for up to 5,732 gallons of water used will increase from a flat fee of $35.87 to $36.23.
The commercial/industrial minimum monthly sewer usage fee also has been raised and ranges from $36.23 up to $287.71 a month, also based on water meter size. The old rates had ranged from $35.87 to $284.86.
Commercial/industrial users whose water does not return to the wastewater collection system may be charged using a different system approved by the city.