Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Water Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DeRidder council hears first reading of proposed water and sewer rate changes; public hearing set for June 9
Summary
The DeRidder City Council heard a first reading of an ordinance to raise city water and sewer connection and user rates tied to a recent grant-driven rate study. Council set a public hearing for June 9, 2025; the ordinance text was read into the record, but transcript numeric figures were inconsistent and are not specified here.
The DeRidder City Council on May 27 took the first step toward raising water and sewer connection and user charges, hearing a full reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 8 of the city code and setting a public hearing for Monday, June 9, 2025.
Miss Luther read the ordinance into the record, explaining the change follows a water-rate study and recent grant funding that, according to the ordinance text, creates a state-linked requirement to adjust rates to avoid grant repayment and maintain future eligibility. The reading included numerous line-item rate and charge amounts for customers inside and outside the city limits; those specific figures were read aloud but the meeting transcript contains inconsistent numeric values, so this article does not reproduce the rates and instead directs readers to the official ordinance text and the council’s June 9 public hearing for final figures.
Why it matters: the ordinance would alter monthly water and sewer bills for residential and commercial customers and includes an automatic annual adjustment on Oct. 1 tied to the Consumer Price Index or a minimum 3% annual increase, whichever is greater, as stated in the ordinance reading.
Council moved and seconded the introduction of the ordinance and voted to set June 9 for the public hearing. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Councilman Marcelo, Councilman Drey (transcribed), Councilwoman Woods, Councilman Reynolds, Councilman Leoo and President Lin; Councilman Hooper was absent. The motion passed and the public hearing was scheduled.
The ordinance text as read references statewide grant implementation requirements; no specific statute or administrative citation was named during the reading. The council did not take a final vote on the ordinance at the May 27 meeting; the next formal opportunity for public comment and council action is the June 9 public hearing.
The council’s packet and the full ordinance text should be consulted for precise rate schedules and implementation dates; those materials will be available through the city clerk’s office ahead of the June 9 hearing.
