By CHARLIE HUST
Providence City Council breezed through a busy regular session Monday night, hearing second reading of one ordinance and the first reading of two more ordinances.
Council members approved the second reading of an ordinance dealing with water rates as well as tap fees for all electrical, gas and sewer lines for both residential and commercial use. The ordinance will increase the standard water bill in the city by approximately $4, a move that was long overdue according to Mayor Gooch.
“We’ve needed to do this for a least six years. And even though we’re making these adjustments (increase), we’re still below 14 of the 16 water districts in the surrounding area,” Gooch explained.“ This the first water rate increase since 2000.”
He provided a comparison chart of rates in western Kentucky, showing that even with the increase, Providence’s water rate would still remain less expensive than all area water district with the exception of Madisonville and Henderson.
“We have financial obligations in the water and sewer departments and we certainly need to think about repairing and replacing some of the infrastructure and other things that need to done in our system. Some of those water lines were