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HARTINGTON — Rate increases are being planned for many city services.
The Hartington City Council spent the majority of their Monday meeting reviewing and discussing the rates and fees on its Master Fee Schedule.
Mayor Mark Becker said this schedule needs to be reviewed on an annual basis. After looking over the fees the city currently charges, council members then looked over fees from half a dozen other communities to use as a comparable.
Most of Hartington's rates were either lower than or near the middle for most of the comparisons.
Becker said he doesn't want Hartington to have the lowest rates in the group, nor the highest.
'I think Hartington is an above average community, but I don't think our rates need to reflect that,' he said. 'I think we need to be somewhere in the middle with our rates.'
Fees being considered for an increase include water, sewer, garbage, swimming pool passes, city auditorium passes, and sign permits.
Fees for people who own chickens and horses inside the city limits were also added to the Master Fee Schedule. Area residents can register up to six chickens with the city for an annual $25 fee. Horse permits will also cost $25 annually. No more than three horses are allowed, however. Horses will only be allowed on a two-acre or larger property.
The city also added a $50 fee for people applying for a curb cut.
Also Monday, council members approved a draw down of $372 from LB 840 funds to pay for signage at the new Hartington business park.
The sign advertises lots for sale. The council also reviewed the December Sheriff's report.
Officers covered two accidents, and two welfare checks in December. The Sheriff's Department put in a total of 467.5 patrol hours in Hartington for the month. One arrest was made in December and eight written warnings were handed out, as well as three citations for traffic violations.
