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Santa Claus mayor asks city attorney to review why sewage charges exceed Lyons rates
Summary
Mayor Donita Bowen told the City Council that a sewage increase should be $65 per month (not the $95 cited in January) and asked Attorney Tina Maddox to review the 2010 contract with Lyons to determine why Santa Claus residents are being charged more. The council did not reverse the rate but directed the review.
Mayor Donita Bowen said at the Feb. 18 City of Santa Claus council meeting that a correction was needed to an earlier statement about a proposed sewage-rate increase and that city staff member Eddie Wright had reviewed options to minimize the increase. Bowen said the sewage increase "should be a minimum of $65.00 per month, not $95.00," and that the increase under discussion stems from charges the city pays Lyons for the sewage lift station.
Bowen told the council the city must set water and sewer rates to cover system expenses. She noted a 2010 contract with Lyons states Santa Claus residents "are to be charged the same amount as the residents in Lyons," and councilmembers asked Bowen to meet with Attorney Tina Maddox with the original contract and request that Maddox act on the city's behalf to determine why Santa Claus appears to be charged more than Lyons residents.
The discussion focused on ensuring utility accounts generate sufficient revenue to cover operation costs; no vote to change the new rates was recorded at the meeting. Council accepted the Jan. 21 meeting minutes after Bowen's correction. Bowen said she will consult Attorney Maddox and report back to the council at a future meeting.
