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Broken Bow mayor stresses backup equipment as council holds sewer-rate hearing and second reading
Summary
At the Nov. 26 meeting the council opened a public hearing on Ordinance 1294 (sewer rates); Mayor Rod Sonnichsen said reserves are needed for backup equipment and urged gradual annual rate increases. The council performed the ordinance’s second reading.
The Broken Bow City Council at its Nov. 26 session opened a public hearing on Ordinance 1294, addressing sewer rates, and completed the ordinance’s second reading.
Mayor Rod Sonnichsen told the council, "everyone wants their toilets to flush," arguing the city lacks sufficient backup equipment at the sewer plant for emergencies and that building reserves would allow the city to "build stock and prepare" for potential failures. He urged council members to consider an ordinance structure that would allow gradual annual rate increases rather than infrequent larger increases.
Council voted not to waive the two-reading rule, and City Clerk Jennifer Waterhouse read the ordinance’s second reading on the record. Roll-call votes on procedural motions were unanimous among the three members present (Russ Smith, Luke Wassom and Chris Myers). The minutes do not record a final adoption vote or an effective date for Ordinance 1294.
The sewer-rate hearing followed the council’s earlier discussion about utility reserves and planned capital needs; council members discussed funding strategies to avoid heavy borrowing for work such as sewer extensions and well-house repairs.
