Water, sewer rates to increase in L.S.

LIME SPRINGS - The City Council met on March 22 for a special council meeting and public hearing. 

The budget for Fiscal Year 2023 was approved with no oral or written comments from the public.

• Council members then discussed raising water and sewer rates, which had not been increased since July 2019. 

Maggie Burger of Sperry Financial had talked to council about raising money for water and sewer projects at a March 9 meeting. She said the City’s debt ratio is too low to qualify for most grants. Low interest loans would be available to the City of Lime Springs.

Burger felt a good way to show entities loaning or granting money the City is invested on improvements is to raise utility rates. She said $15 per household per month and $16 per household per month would help the bottom line. That’s a total of $31 extra.

She did state the City might be able to charge a combination of a flat fee and raising usage fees.

Council members had about two weeks to think about which direction they wanted to go.

Nobody wants to raise the rates, but it is necessary to fix old water and sewer lines, as well as streets in town.

Council voted to raise water and sewer by a $5.00 flat fee for each and also raise rates 5% for both. The rate will change July 1, 2022.

For homes that use the minimum or less for water (usage at 1,000 gallons per month), the total increase will be $10, $5.00 for water and $5.00 for sewer.

For a family of four using 5,200 gallons per month, the total increase will be $12.15, give or take, depending on usage. The ones that will see a bigger increase will be businesses that use more water.

• Decisions were also made at the March 9 meeting in regards to big projects being split between two years. 

Projects in 2022 include updating water and sewer on Jackson St. between Clark St.  and Forest St., as well as update sewer and water and repave A-23 (from the curve at A&K Bin Site #3 to Merrill St.).

The project for 2023 will include replacing Merrill St. Bridge, along with some water and sewer mains and repaving part of East Merrill going to East St. (by the Methodist Church and East Main St. West Merrill St. from the City limits to Center St. will also have water and sewer mains replaced and repaved.

Some pretty hefty prices go along with those projects, but they have needed to be done for many years. The projects will give the City debt, which Council members are hoping will give Lime Springs the ability to get grants for more projects. 

Burger explained getting long-term loans and using cash, along with money acquired by raising water and sewer rates, is doable for the City.

• At the March 9 meeting, Max Stockman was hired as Deputy Clerk.

• Public Works Director Tyler Smith stated he should be ready to take the sewer certification test in April. He wanted to finish the sewer first and then take the water test. Smith does have the one year experience needed to receive certification.

• The City is waiting on DNR grant results before continuing with removing the Tienter/Jenkins buildings on Willard St. If Lime Springs gets the grant, it can’t start work until June 1. If it doesn’t, work can start immediately.

• Council members agreed to see if the City’s lawyer, as well as the attorney representing Spring Ahead Learning Center could try to figure out a solution to signing the lease between the two entities at the next Council meeting on April 5. If not, both attorneys will be at the April council meeting. Council will abide by what its lawyer recommends.