by Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor
The Clay City Council was in session last Tuesday night. In the absence of Mayor Rick Householder, the council members selected Jackie Edens to serve as Mayor Pro Temp for the meeting.
The big topic of the night was the future of the city’s utility rates.
“Paul Stone has been doing rate studies, and Mayor Householder has requested GRADD to send us rates from the surrounding area,” Rhye said.
According to city clerk Julianne Rhye, there hasn’t been a water rate increase in the 13 years that she has been working for the city.
But the water rate might not be the only one effected. Clay’s gas line has customers all the way from Providence to Wheatcroft, causing increased cost to city.
“When we send someone out that far in a truck to disconnect a line, then the customer comes in and pays, they have to turn around and drive back,” said Rhye.
One idea the council looked at was implementing a “stair stepped” cost on reconnects, or charging more every time a customer gets disconnected for not paying a bill.
Rhye said that in most cases when a line gets disconnected, it belongs to a customer who has been disconnected in the past.
No action was taken at this meeting. City officials will continue to investigate the matter.
It was also reported that at the January council meeting, Mayor Householder and Fire Chief Jeremy Moore will report on the progress of the new fire station.
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