Meeker to raise rates

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The Meeker Town Board, meeting as the Public Works Authority, voted this week to raise water, sewer and trash rates effective Dec 1.

The board approved an ordinance and emergency clause raising the minimum rates for each by $1 a month.

In September, PWA Clerk Jody Vaughn, presenting information to the Trustees, recommended raising the minimum rates by $1 each.

“Our water rate is $29 a month and the recommended increase is to $30,” she said.

The proposed sewer rate is $14.50, up from $13.50 a month and the proposed trash rate is $14.95 a month, up from $13.95.

“The total increase for water, sewer and trash amounts to about $3 a month for a minimum bill,” she informed the PWA Trustees.

During the September meeting, the board authorized its attorney James Hodgens to draw up the new ordinance.

Meeting as the Board of Trustees, they also passed an ordinance restricting the number of garage sales allowed in Meeker that residents are allowed to have.

The emergency clause also was approved and the ordinance will go into effect as soon as it’s published in the newspaper, officials explained.

In other business, the board agreed to begin making monthly payments to the PWA for the allotted amount of sales tax (20 percent) by issuing regular payments each month beginning with the December 2020 sales tax.

Without needing an executive session, they also approved paying employee bonus compensation of $300 for full time employees, $150 for part-time employees and $300 for contract labor.

Later meeting as the PWA, they took the same action for PWA employees.

Town Administrator Dickie Walton in his report told the board the town will receive $87,500 in CARES Act funds for COVID-19 related expenses.

He also told members the town has been approved for a $50,000 REAP grant for street improvements.

“We applied for $75,000, the total project cost is $79,000 and we will receive the $50,000,” he advised.

Walton updated the board on the Quapaw 15 Project, Meeker Lake, saying, “The survey is being redone. They contemplate construction beginning in December 2021-January 2022 and it will take about a year to complete.

“It should be done in 2023.”

The city applied with DEQ and received a permit to burn the debris from the ice storm, Walton said.