Council hikes trash, sewer fees

The McCook City Council unanimously approved increases in trash and sewer fees Monday night.

Set to go into effect Oct. 1. trash collection fees will be bumped up by $1.50 per month for residential users, from $15.50 to $17 per month. Commercial fees will be raised from $54.68 per ton to $56 per ton.

The last time fees were increased was October 2005, from $14.50 per month to $15.50 per month.

The council suspended the three-reading rule of the ordinance that contains the increase and approved it Monday night, so the rates could be incorporated into the 2008-09 solid waste budget.

Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff told the council at its Aug. 18 meeting that the increase was recommended by an auditor, to improve the ending fund balance that is less than $50,000.

The increase in sewer fees will generate an additional $41,399 in sewer revenue, or about $3,449 per month.

Rates will raised by $1 per month for city homeowners and by $1.55 for commercial users. The increase will set the minimum charge for residential customers at $12.170 per month and $18.961 per month for commercial users.

The council suspended the regular three-reading rule of the ordinances and approved the rate increase on first reading, at its regular meeting Monday night.

The increase was expedited so that rates could be changed in the computer system prior to the start of the fiscal year budget Oct. 1.

Utility Director Jesse Dutcher told the council at a budget workshop meeting this summer that an increase was recommended by the financial company that monitors revenue and expenses of the sewer and water departments. The increase will boost the ending balance in the sewer enterprise fund and help operating expenses.

At the Aug. 18 council meeting, the council approved the increase, along with applying $150,000 in city sales tax revenue to sewer debt buy-down.