Community raises sewer rates

The Iron Mountain Lake City Council met in regular session on Monday evening. During the meeting the board discussed and voted on Bill 15-01, the ordinance to raise the sewer user fee to $30 per month.

The monthly sewer rates were raised from $22 to $30 and the board gave a unanimous vote in favor of the increase.

Shaun Kunz gave a sewer report and stated that the UV Disinfection System is ready for siding and the metal has been ordered. In addition to that, the valve repair and replacement has come along nicely and the sewers are running well with very few issues.

The electric bill was not as high as they expected with the sewer system's aerators running 24 hours a day, seven days a week to decrease the ammonia levels. Due to the valves working properly, the motors dont have to run nearly as much as they used to.

Under new business the board approved Bill 15-03 ordinance 10, which is to update the business license requirements within the lake community. They also discussed organizing a committee for obtaining USDA funding for a road grader and other equipment.

After much discussion a motion was made to organize a committee for an interlocking board to pursue funding for road improvements. It was a 2-1 vote with Josh Skaggs voting no and Rodger Stodgell and Rita Gephardt voting yes.

The group approved sending City Clerk Lanette Kunz to Columbia for a city clerk institute training from March 8-12 at a projected cost of $1,200 for all expenses. The council discussed the dog pound issues with the USDA requirements. They are still waiting for Pilot Knob Rural Water District to locate their water lines and are still waiting on electrical hook-ups.

The council tabled the repairs to a Dodge pickup truck for the city and park board use until a price list of repairs is furnished for the council to review. They also discussed pursuing a grant for park improvement, lake dredging and bathrooms through a 55/45 grant match through DNR based on Southeast Missouri Regional Plannings recommendations.

The council asked that the city clerk continue updates and gather information to pursue a grant through this program starting in the fall for the spring 2016 deadline.

The annual Rake the Lake event is set for May 30 and the council discussed and approved a working budget for prizes and advertising supplies in the amount of $821.36.

Read the rest here:
Community raises sewer rates