Sulphur council approves modest utility increases as residents press water-quality concerns

The Sulphur City Council on an evening vote approved a set of utility rate changes that city staff said are needed to finance water and wastewater projects and continue operations. The council approved a 7.53% increase to water rates this year (a roughly $2.90 per month contribution to the average bill) as part of a $3.75 monthly total bill increase, and a smaller 1.68% increase to the city's wastewater charge (from $32.65 to $33.20). The council also approved a 10-cent increase to the monthly capital recovery fee and raised the monthly low-income utility assistance from $24 to $27.75.

City staff framed the measures as incremental steps to fund required infrastructure work and to qualify for state program financing. Miss Storm, a city utility staff member who presented the rate study, said the recommended increases follow a formal rate study done for applications to the state's water sector program: "This year, the water utility increase we're proposing is 7.53%... the study came back that we would need to increase rates this year and next year, both by 7 and a half percent." City staff said the revenue will support work already authorized through the state's water sector funding and upcoming projects at the Verdon plant, including a lamellar clarifier to remove iron and manganese before filtration.

Why it matters: Residents told the council the water is visibly problematic and want faster upgrades. Several speakers said they do not drink city water and described mineral buildup on fixtures and showerheads. Cindy Robertson, a long-time resident who has been coordinating independent testing, urged the council to use the new revenue to address water safety and testing: "It does meet the Louisiana Department of Health requirements. It does not meet the scientifically accepted health parameters for safe water... so please take a look at addressing the safety issues in our water." Other residents, including Donna Clark and Laddie Polk, described staining on fixtures and frequent cleaning needs and asked for clearer timelines and faster progress.

The council voted to approve the measures after staff explained the city also is receiving state water-sector funding that requires matching local action. Council members and staff described a $5 million cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA) tied to the state's water sector program that the council moved to ratify in a separate agenda item; staff said one project (replacement of filters at the north plant) has already received $1.8 million in reimbursement and another (Verdine plant clarifier and piping) is starting. Finance staff said FEMA reimbursements and a planned $6 million transfer from the general fund to the public utility fund (adopted elsewhere on the agenda) will also be used for utility capital projects.

Garbage and bulk pickup: Waste Management informed the city of a proposed 14.8% contract increase. Council members discussed three options presented by staff: (1) accept the larger increase, (2) discontinue bulk pickup and reduce the residential fee, or (3) hold the residential rate steady and cover part of the cost from the general fund. After discussion the council approved a conservative residential increase from the proposed budget (the mayor's proposed budget contained a smaller increase), and staff said they will study the feasibility and costs of taking bulk-pickup operations in-house (staff noted vehicles and labor would require capital investment and likely a year to implement).

Meters and project timeline: In public comment and later staff remarks, city staff said a phased meter replacement program is underway. Staff described commercial-meter replacements completed or scheduled for summer and said residential meter procurement and installation are planned once the drinking-water revolving loan funds application is processed; staff said residential installations were expected to start in the fall after financing is finalized.

Quotes: - "This year, the water utility increase we're proposing is 7.53%... the study came back that we would need to increase rates this year and next year, both by 7 and a half percent," Miss Storm (city utility staff) said during the presentation. - "It does meet the Louisiana Department of Health requirements. It does not meet the scientifically accepted health parameters for safe water... Don't drink it. Don't cook with it. Don't bathe in it," Cindy Robertson (resident) paraphrasing a consultant's advice about the city's testing report. - "Some of the steps we're taking now... are part of the water sector program funding that we got. We are our plan is to install a lamellar clarifier," a city staff member said, describing the upcoming Verdine plant work.

What the votes did: The council approved Ordinance 35-25 (water fees), Ordinance 36-25 (wastewater fees), Ordinance 37-25 (garbage fees, as amended), Ordinance 38-25 (increase to low-income assistance), and Ordinance 39-25 (capital recovery fee). The council also introduced or ratified the cooperative endeavor agreement with the state for the water sector funding (item introduced separately) and heard the municipal water pollution prevention audit (the audit score was reported by staff).

Next steps: Staff will post the updated budget and rate ordinance language to the city website. The council asked staff to return with options for the bulk pickup service (including cost of in-house operation versus contracting) and to provide progress updates on the Verdon project and meter installations.

Ending: Residents who spoke pressed the council for clearer timelines and more rapid work on treatment and filtration; staff responded with a project timeline tied to state grants, financing, and procurement lead times. The council's action preserves the city's path to use state water-sector funds while modestly raising bills to support capital work.