City adjusts language in rate increase resolution

HARTINGTON — The Hartington City Council Monday revisited its water, sewer and garbage rate increases and heard from a local citizen about those rates.

The Council passed a Resolution intended to clean up some language with the ordinances enacted with the new water, sewer and garbage rates increases,

City Clerk Natalie Schaecher felt the resolution as originally adopted was confusing. Only the language was changed, not the rates.

The rates went up because the Council wants to set funds aside for repairs to water system and garbage service updates.

Long-time Airport Authority Board member Joe Hish said he was surprised to see a 28.5 percent rate increase. He wants to make sure the city is utilizing state and federal grants to replace the aging water and sewer system.

“The airport is always taking advantage of grants to update our facility. The grants are there,” he said. “This is an aging system and it is going to have to be replaced one of these days, so the city should be looking into some grants to replace that system down the road.”

Mayor Mark Becker said the city is aware that updates and repairs will be needed and will make sure the city looks into all grants. The rates had to go up to make sure basic expenses were being met and some funds could be set aside for future updates, he said.

Along those lines, the Council also opted Monday to change the title of a current savings account and set up a savings account specific for garbage truck repairs to make sure these funds are available when needed in the future.

Also Monday, the Council approved a building permit for Kelly Steffen, who wants to extend his deck.