IMPERIAL — The water and sewer rates for the city were increased by 1.6 percent on a 4-1 vote Wednesday of the City Council.
The rates are already high, said Councilman Rick Breland, who was the dissenting vote in the decision.
“Unfortunately we live in a state and under the circumstances it costs us so much to operate and when we have lines that are probably 80 years old,” said Councilman Geoff Dale shortly after. If any of the lines break, he said, it costs money to fix them.
The increase is based on last month’s consumer price index increase, said Finance Director Laura Gutierrez, and the increase will help cover not only maintenance and capacity improvements of the water and wastewater plant, but also infrastructure projects.
Water and wastewater increases began in 2010 and are expected to continue to be attached to consumer price index fluctuations until fiscal year 2016-2017.
It’s easier to have little increases instead of a big increase one time, said Councilman Mark Gran shortly before the vote of approval.
Residents can expect to find the increase in the Aug. 1 bills.
Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com
Meeting Glance
Here are three things that happened at Wednesday’s meeting
1 — A grant application under the Transportation Enhancement Program for a Highway 86 fencing project was approved by the council. If awarded, the grant would provide some $318,000 for the project.
2 — The city agreed to provide building inspection and plan-checking services to Holtville, a service previously provided by the county. Under this intergovernmental agreement Imperial will collect 75 percent of fees for plan checking and 100 percent of fees associated with building permits.
3 — A mixed-use senior apartment complex was approved by the City Council. The project will be located in the 300 block of South Imperial Avenue and the developer will receive up to $2 million in loans from the Successor Housing Agency if an upcoming state grant loan application isn’t successful.
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