City plans to increase water rates

Clarendon Aldermen will be considering a $10 increase to the base water rate when they hold their next regular meeting October 13 at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

The increase is being called for to help fund a $3.9 million project to improve the city’s water distribution system.

The city received a grant of $1.387 million from USDA Rural Development for the project, and the remainder of the financing will come from a $2.522 million 40-year loan from USDA.

City leaders say the fairest and surest way to make those note payments – which will start next July – is to add $10 per month to every commercial and residential water account.

“By increasing the water minimum charge, we can insure that water revenue covers the expense of these water improvements,” City Administrator David Dockery said.

The minimum residential water charge is now $22.40 for the first 2,000 gallons, Dockery said. That minimum will go up to $32.40.

The main focus of the project will be to address discolored water found in some parts of town that is caused by miles of cast iron distribution pipes and poor flow through the system.

The city is also out of compliance with state regulations for elevated storage due to problems with the standpipe (or water tower) on the east side of town. Clarendon could face state fines in the near future if those issues are not addressed.

The city additionally will replace all water meters with auto read meters. City officials say the aging meters currently in use are inaccurate by as much as 20 percent, and automated meters would significantly reduce the man-hours needed each month to read more than 700 meters.

More than 50 people attended the Town Hall meeting on March 29 at the Bairfield Activity Center, where Dockery, along with then mayor Larry Hicks and city engineer Clayton Scales, fielded questions from the public following an explanatory overview of the project.

The project is scheduled to be bid in February 2017.

The Town Hall meeting in March answered many questions and resulted in general support for the project.

Dockery said citizens will be given another opportunity to speak or ask questions at next week’s meeting as well.