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Hickman council approves first readings of water and sewer rate ordinances
Summary
The Hickman City Council introduced and approved on first reading ordinances to raise municipal water and sewer charges, citing a rate study and planned utility projects; the sewer ordinance passed with one no vote. Public concerns focused on higher minimum charges and impacts on low-usage households.
The Hickman City Council on Feb. 11 introduced and passed on first reading two ordinances that would raise the city’s water and sewer customer charges and usage rates, measures city staff said are needed to fund upcoming utility projects.
Councilors said the changes follow a recently completed rate study and are intended to support planned work including a new water main and a booster pump station. The ordinance materials in the council packet list a proposed change in the monthly water customer charge from 27.60 to 29.26 (as presented in the packet) and increased usage tiers; staff also described staged increases recommended across the next several years.
“We did the study to make sure we’re on the right pace to continue our growth,” a staff member responding to council questions said during discussion. Councilors pressed staff on options to hold the minimum charge steady and instead adjust usage rates, noting that a higher minimum affects low-usage households more than high-usage users.
The council introduced the water ordinance (listed in the packet as 2025-4) and passed it on first reading by roll call. The sewer ordinance (2025-5), introduced the same night, also passed on first reading after discussion about phasing and household impacts; one councilor voted no.
Councilors and staff agreed to bring further details on the rate study and to answer questions about potential alternatives (for example, shifting more of the increase to usage charges rather than the minimum) at a future meeting before final readings.
What happens next: both ordinances will return for subsequent readings before any new rates take effect; documents in the packet show an effective date in the materials of April 1, 2025 for the proposed water changes. The council’s packet contains the full rate schedule and study recommendations for review.
Clarifying details from the meeting: the packet shows the water customer charge figures as “2760” to “2926” (interpreted in the packet as per-month customer charges), and staff described a multi-year schedule of smaller annual increases. The sewer minimum cited in discussion was shown as moving from figures in the 47.90 range to roughly 50.30 in the proposed schedule.
