The city of Goessel also provides water for some residences that are not within the city limits. Rates for these users are also based on the size of the water meter and the amount of water that is used. But the rates for outlying resisdents is twice the amount that is charged to residents of the city.
The council also set monthly surcharge fees for the purpose of improvements to the municipal water system, as well as regular maintenance.
The monthly rates will be as follows: $8 for each three-fourths-inch or 1-inch water meter, $12 for each 11⁄2-inch or 2-inch meter, and $16 for each 4-inch water meter.
The ordinance also includes rates for sewer service. These rates are determined by the amount of water used at each residence.
The minimum monthly charge will be $7, plus a user charge rate for operation and maintenance of 20 cents per 100 gallons of water (or wastewater).
Residents outside the city will be charged 25 cents per 100 gallons of water (or wastewater).
Everyone will be charged a sewer maintenance examination fee of $1.50 per month for each meter.
The ordinance further states that any user who discharges toxic pollutants into the city?s system will pay for the cost of getting rid of the toxins.
Sewer charges must be paid in a timely manner set forth by the council. Delinquent payments will be collected by means of a special assessment against the lot, and the county will be notified.
All new rates will take effect with the next water/sewer bill.
Other business
In other business, the council:
n expressed appreciation to Westbranch Township for donating $750 toward the purchase of bullet-proof vests for the city police officers.
n heard Police Chief Joe Base report that his department had issued three equipment warnings, one notice to appear for speeding, one parking warning and one parking citation. They had investigated one fraudulent check case, one theft report, two hit-and-run accidents, one suspicious activity report and one open door on a vacant house.
The police department had assisted the emergency medical service on four calls, assisted the fire department with traffic control, conducted two welfare checks, finger-printed one resident for state paperwork and served papers on housing code violations.
n discussed purchasing a used police car and authorized Base to look into the matter.
n voted to purchase ground in the Voth Addition west of the baseball diamonds. Including attorney fees, the ground will cost $4,500. Mayor Peggy Jay said the ground could be used for parking, perhaps restrooms and a concession stand in the future.
Councilor Jim Wiens suggested that it would also be a nice place for a water play park, a snow hill, and a bike hill. He said he had looked in the current park for a place to put a water park. But, he said, ?Everywhere I look in the park, we have a flooding problem.?
n heard Public Works Director Karen Dickerson report that she had gone to Topeka, along with Wiens, to gather information about starting a fourth well for the city. The paperwork has been done.
She said each of the city?s wells can pump 150 gallons of water per minute to the water tower. The wells are 42 feet deep. The cost of digging a new well will be $22,000.
Wiens said an additional well is needed because sometimes ?We were running all three wells 22 out of 24 hours? a day.
n heard Dickerson report water-meter problems. ?We have to buy meters,? she said. The council authorized her to buy and install three meters at a cost of $628.75 each.
n heard that Dickerson and Base had attended a class on pipeline safety and obtained certification. ?It was free,? she said. ?It was good training.?
n reviewed the housing incentive of $1,000 a year for five years for new houses within the city limits. Two owners of new homes have already applied for the incentive, and it is still available for the next three new houses.
