Marion builds water shed
Marion builds water shed
Councilman: ‘ Something we needed to move on’
news@theeveningtimes.com
Marion City Council officially voted to go ahead and build a shed over its new forced water main at the city’s sewer pond.
Councilman Jim Spence, who chairs the city’s water and sewer committee, said the city got one bid for $20,900.
“We talked about it in committee and felt like this was something we needed to move on,” Spence said.
The building will help keep the pumps from freezing and being struck by lighting.
Councilman Kelly O’Neal cast the lone no vote, claiming Bond Engineering should have included the cost to build the shed in the original bid specs when the city bid the job to build the pipeline to the Mississippi River.
On a related matter, Mayor Frank Fogleman reminded the public that the new water rates will be reflected on the February bill.
“The water rates that were approved in November will be in effect on the bill that will be mailed at the end of this week,” Fogleman said.
Customers will see about a $7 a month increase on their water bill.
The city approved a rate hike in order to pay for a $2.5 million water filtration plant.
Residents will now be paying $5 for the first 2,000 gallons or $1.50 more; $1.15 for the next 5,000 gallons or 30 cents more from the old rate; and $1.05 for anything over 5,000 gallons — also an increase of 30 cents.
The city has 5,200 water customers.
The rates were based on the need to cover the $27,000 a month it will take to pay back the loan on the filter plant.
By Mark Randall
