TONASKET – The city council decided on a 2.5 percent rate increase for a water and sewer ordinance at their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
“We haven’t had an increase in approximately four or five years,” Councilmember Joyce Fancher said. “Nobody ever likes to see anything go up, but it’s like the pay increases that hadn’t happened. I don’t think 2.5 percent is exorbitant and I would suggest the council stick with a 2.5 percent increase.”
When Councilmember Connie Maden agreed with Fancher, Mayor Patrick Walter said it seemed to be a consensus of the council to have City Clerk Alice Attwood draft an ordinance for a water and sewer rate increase of 2.5 percent.
The council also opened the bids for the provision of cemetery liners, as well as propane to the city. There was only one bid for cemetery liners, from Wilbert Precast, Inc. from Spokane. Attwood said the price per liner including taxes would be $368 and Walter said the liners have been provided to the city by the same company for a long time.
There were no bids to provide propane, so Attwood told the council that in the past when no bids were received, the decision to stay with the current company was usually made.
During the meeting, the council heard from Chris Branch about their Capital Facilities Plan and their Shoreline Master Program.
Branch recommended the council meet with John Spencer from Washougal, Wash. who contacted the council about doing the Capital Facilities Plan. The council decided to invite Spencer to their Feb. 10 meeting if he is available.
The council then decided not to designate a voting representative and alternate to the Wenatchee Valley Transportation Council for 2009 because of scheduling conflicts.
“This is the meeting that goes with the North Central Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization in Chelan held on the second Thursday each month from nine to 11,” Attwood said.
After deciding not to designate a representative, Maden suggested the council make sure they receive the agendas and minutes so that if something comes up the council would like to be involved in, they can do so.
The council meets next on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.
