Minto residents to see utility rate increase Feb. 1
MINTO – Minto residents will see a modest increase in their utility bill February 1, partially due to an increase in the base rate charged the city for water. The last water rate increase went into effect in 2010, while sewer rates were raised in 2011 and the rate for snow removal increased in 2012.
Council members Larry Jamison, Craig Nice, Keith Shutt and Mayor Lane Kelley were in attendance. Council member Jim Lobsinger was absent.
The City of Minto acquires its water through their joint powers agreement with the Walsh Rural Water District and the City of Park River, which provide water distribution services and water treatment services, respectively.
According to Brian Reilly, manager of the rural water district, the eight cent per 1000 gallon increase is mostly due to an increase in costs from the City of Park River.
“We are relaying increased costs for water treatment,” said Reilly.
The Minto City Council discussed the water rate increase in conjunction with snow removal and sewer system costs. A motion was offered by Nice and seconded by Shutt to increase the city utility rates by one dollar per month, with twenty-five cents each going to the water and sewer funds and the remaining 50 cents going to snow removal. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote.
In other business, the council decided to participate in a community celebration being planned around a challenge to an existing world record for producing a ton of chili. The event is planned for June 15. The Minto Action League will also work with the council member Jamison and Shutt, public works director, to order decorative lights to be added to city light poles during the upcoming Christmas holiday seasons.
The next meeting of the Minto City Council has been scheduled for noon on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, at the city office.