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Algood council advances first reading of ordinance to adjust water and sewer rates
Summary
The Algood City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 713-24 to set new water and sewer rates after Cookville notified the city of wholesale increases (water +15.1%, sewer +27.0%). Council said the city will phase in increases beginning Jan. 1, 2025; a second reading and public hearing are scheduled next month.
Algood’s City Council on first reading approved Ordinance 713-24, a measure to set new city water and sewer rates after the municipality received notice that its wholesale provider’s charges increased sharply this year.
Council members said wholesale water rates from Cookville rose about 15.1% and wholesale sewer rates about 27.0%, and that Algood has absorbed part of the higher costs to avoid placing the entire burden on customers immediately. The ordinance as presented would take effect Jan. 1, 2025, and payments would remain due on the 15th of each month; the council said the change will require a second reading and a public hearing next month before any final adoption.
A motion to approve the ordinance on first reading was made and seconded; the clerk recorded voice votes in favor from Mayor Fowler, Councilman Bilbury, Councilman Williams and Councilwoman Hawkins. Council members said they prefer to phase increases over time rather than pass the full wholesale adjustment onto residents in a single step.
Council did provide example rate impacts during the discussion but the figures in the public record were partially garbled; the council emphasized that more precise billing examples and a formal public hearing will follow at the second reading. The measure remains preliminary pending that public hearing and the formal second reading next month.
The council also noted that the city receives treated wastewater and water service from Cookville, and that the ordinance responds to increases announced by that wholesale provider rather than a locally initiated rate change.
