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THIS PAGE SPONSORED BY PETERSON ANTHONY INSURANCE
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01/29/2013
THE FAIRMONT CITY COUNCIL WITH SOME RELUCTANCE MONDAY APPROVED INCREASING RATES FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER IN THE CITY . THE WATER RATES GO UP 12 PER CENT ACROSS THE BOARD AND WASTEWATER RATES 8 PER CENT. THE CITY CHOSE NOT TO RAISE ELECTRIC RATES THIS YEAR. THE WATER AND WASTE WATER RATES ARE ONLY A PART OF THE TOTAL UTILITIES BILL SO CUSTOMERS WON'T NECESSARILY SEE THE 12 PER C ENT INCREASE. IN FACT AN EXAMPLE PUT FORTH BY FINANCE DIRECTOR PAUL HOYE WHICH STATED THAT THE TOTAL BILL FOR A SMALL RESIDENTIAL USER MAY GO UP JUST OVER 8 PER CENT. THE RATES FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USERS MAY NOT BE THAT HIGH BUT THEIR DOLLAR AMOUNTS ON UTILITY BILLS WILL BE MUCH MORE.
THE RATE INCREASE SPURRED DISCUSSION ON WAYS OF SOFTENING THE BLOW TO RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS BY USING RESERVE FUNDS, BROADENING THE CUSTOMER BASE, AND SELLING PURIFIED WASTE WATER TO INDUSTRIAL USERS. THE D N R WOULD HAVE TO GIVE PERMISSION TO DO THAT AND TO PROVIDE WATER FOR THE BUFFALO LAKE ENERGY BIOFUELS ETHANOL PLANT WHICH THE CITY HAS EXPLORED WHICH THEY HAVE NOT DONE.
THE CITY FACES A SITUATION IN WHICH THE RATES ARE INCREASED TO PAY FOR THE NEW WATER PLANT AND INCREASE SOME MORE BECAUSE WATER USAGE IS DOWN AND CITY RESIDENTS ARE CONSERVING MORE AND THE D N R HAS PLACED WATER USE RESTRICTIONS ON CITY RESIDENTS. A STUDY IS PLANNED FOR A RATE STRUCTURE EXAMINATION IN THE FUTURE ACCORDING TO PAUL HOYE.
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ROD HALVORSEN
© 2013 KSUM.
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