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Malcolm trustees say water rate increase will fund planned upgrades but filtration unlikely now
Summary
At its May 5 meeting the Village of Malcolm trustees said a recently adopted water rate increase was intended to cover rising operating costs and fund infrastructure upgrades; installing drinking-water filtration is unlikely at this time because of cost. The board also reviewed a sewer rate study and directed staff to explore options to reduce sludge removal costs.
The Trustees of the Village of Malcolm met May 5 and addressed resident concerns about a recent water rate increase, saying the increase was adopted to cover rising operational expenses and to fund planned infrastructure work but is unlikely to pay for drinking-water filtration in the near term.
A resident asked whether the rate change would produce noticeable improvements to water quality, pressure or filtration. Trustees said several infrastructure upgrades are planned, but that installing drinking-water filtration would be cost-prohibitive at this time. The trustees characterized the rate change in part as correcting rates that had not been adjusted for several years.
At the same meeting the board reviewed a sewer rate study prepared by Nebraska Rural Water. Board members discussed the possibility of moving from a flat sewer fee to a usage-based model tied to water consumption. The trustees directed the Public Works Operator to explore alternative approaches to reduce annual sludge-removal costs; no formal rate change was adopted and the matter will return to a future agenda for further consideration.
The discussion did not include an estimate for the cost of the filtration system or a specific timetable for capital projects. The board did not adopt any new filtration program and said decisions about major capital projects would depend on more detailed cost estimates and funding availability.
The board's review and the resident's questions were recorded during the public-discussion portion of the meeting; trustees did not take a final vote on water or sewer rate reforms on May 5. The sewer-rate item is scheduled for further review at a later meeting.
