Council votes to restore wholesale water rate to $4.57, limits 25% increase to city customers

The Crossville City Council voted to rescind the wholesale rate increase for outside customers and return the wholesale rate to $4.57 per 1,000 gallons while keeping a 25% increase for city ratepayers.

Mayor (speaker 2) opened the discussion by saying the 25% increase had been intended to apply only to in-city customers to meet state fund-balance guidelines. A council member (speaker 13) moved to restore the wholesale rate to $4.57; the motion was seconded and approved after brief legal and procedural discussion. The council directed staff to prepare a resolution so the change can be adopted at the next meeting and reflected in water-department billing.

Council members and speakers asked whether the change required a formal ordinance or a resolution. The city attorney (speaker 9) advised that a resolution would be an appropriate vehicle and that the contract with neighboring districts can be amended by mutual consent. The city manager (speaker 14) clarified the previous rate the motion would return wholesale customers to was $4.57 per 1,000 gallons. The motion carried on an 'aye' voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

The action responds directly to public concern from residents and a commissioner who said outside customers were paying substantially more than in-city customers. The council did not finalize a written resolution during the meeting but set the next procedural step: prepare and consider a resolution at the upcoming work session or next meeting.