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By William Browning
Reporter
At the last Board of Aldermen meeting (Jan. 2), board members took the possibility of hiking water, sewage, and garbage collection rates under advisement.
After seeing and hearing possible changes from both Water and Sewer Superintendent Morris Surrette and Street Department Superintendent Michael Scroggins, Alderman Sherry Martin responded to both the superintendents’ presentations by stating, “I think we should take this under advisement. We all need to study this, and take it up next time.”
Surrette showed the board a list of several possible rate changes. Examples include raising a Vallian’s minimum bill from $9.90 to $12, or simply changing the flat rate.
“This could help us in the preservation of our resources,” Surrette noted. “And just basically benefit us in the long run.”
According to Surrette, the average monthly residential bill is $14.57, with those same customers using an average of 5,513 gallons of water a-month. Continuing with his presentation, the superintendent said the average monthly sum of all residential bills totals $19,000 in revenue.
At this point, Mayor Bill Norris added that the city is facing having to refurbish its four existing water tanks. A process, the mayor claimed, that could cost several thousands dollars.
Surrette claimed that the possible changes – the average bill would increase by $4.50 – would likely see an increased revenue of somewhere between $10,000 and $127,000.
Scroggins reported to the board next, and claimed that the ever-rising cost of fuel has led his department to consider having to increase its garbage collection rates.
“Its been eight years since (we’ve raised) our rates,” said Scroggins. “And over just the last year the price of fuel has really been going up.
“Compared with other areas, we’re way behind.”
Scroggins raising the fee for garbage collection – a five-day-a-week occurrence in some parts of Water Valley – from the current $9, to $11 per month.
“The price, with the way it is now, is not covering itself with the price of fuel going up. We’re losing money,” he said.
Other matters discussed at the meeting (at which Alderman Fred White was absent until the final 10 minutes) include:
• The board accepted bids for city culverts. With no other bids being submitted,
the board accepted bids from Williams Equipment and Supply and from Han
son Pipe Products. The Williams’ bid was for plastic culverts, the Hanson for
concrete and metal.
• The board accepted a bid of $42,578 for the purchase of a Viper compactor for
a garbage truck. The accepted bid – which came in as the lowest when com
pared with two others – came from Truck Equipment.
• The city has chosen Mechanics Bank for the city bank depository, citing Me
chanics Bank’s 4.99 percent interest rate. Renasant Bank also submitted a bid,
with an interest rate of 4.86.
• Mayor Norris appointed Eddie Foster to the Planning Commission. Foster will
replace Jerry Daum whose appointment expired at the end of 2006. With both
Aldermen Lance Clements’ and White’s appointees to the Planning Commis
sion ending their terms (Bobby Cox and Emma Faye Gooch) also at the end of
last year, two seats are still vacant on the commission.
• The board accepted a bid from Donald Smith Co. for the rehab of a water well.
The bid was for $23,395, while the two other bids that also came in, where for
$24,235 and $27,400.
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