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HARTINGTON — Rates for several city services are going up.
The Hartington City Council has spent the last couple of weeks 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 com munities 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 for water, sewer, garbage, swimming pool passes, city auditorium passes, sign permits, transfer station were raised.
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. The fee for a sign permit was raised from $20 to $30.
The monthly minimum charged for water usage was raised from $26 to $28. The rate for sewer service was raised from $25.75 a month to $28. The last time either of these rates were increased was in 2022.
The fee for residential garbage collection also increased. It was raised from $19 a month to $24 a month. This service was well below what any other area communities were charging, and needed to be raised, council members said. Garbage rates were last raised in 2024.
The fee for commercial dumpster service was raised from $45 a month to $50 per month.
The minimum fee for using the transfer station was also increased. The fee is now $12 for Hartington residents with 300 pounds or less for the transfer station. This is a $1.50 increase over the old rate.
The deposit for rental of the auditorium basement was also increased. The fee for some city auditorium passes was raised, as well.
Also Monday, the council agreed to amend the Skylon Ballroom liquor license to allow for an outdoor beer garden.
Several residents also attended Monday’s meeting to share their concerns about a rundown property in their neighborhood at 609 N.
Broadway Ave.
Mayor Mark Becker said he is aware of the property. He said upon investigating the issue, the city discovered the property is being foreclosed on and a Sheriff’s sale is expected soon.
‘’At this time it looks like there is a process underway to have it sold on tax foreclosure, so the issue may soon resolve itself,’’ he said. ‘’If it continues to be a problem, come on back and we’ll do whatever we need to from there.’’
The council appointed Frank Herbolscheimer to the City Park Board, and approved a building permit to Trent Jansen, who wants to build a garage at his 603 N. Broadway residence.
City Attorney Nikki Brandt told council members the Federal Aviation Administration has agreed to remove the city from a complaint filed against the Hartington Airport Authority. The complaint stems from a bid the entity accepted in 2025. Complainants felt their bid was unjustly overlooked.
The council also agreed to renew several CDs and to add an additonal $50,000 to a CD that has been established for sewer plant repairs.
Mayor Becker also read a proclamation supporting Problem Gam bling Awareness Month.
The next Hartington City Council meeting is set for 5 p.m., March 9, at Hartington's City Hall.
