Auxvasse increases rates to help fund water, sewer project

Residents here may see an increase on their water and sewer bill as soon as February.

Water and sewer rate hikes were passed as part of the City of Auxvasse's 2012 budget that was unanimously passed at Tuesday night's Board of Aldermen meeting. The increases were set at $2.50 per 1,000 gallons of water usage, and $2.98 per 1,000 gallons of sewer usage.

City Clerk Missy Hooks said residents will see the new rates reflected on their February water/sewer bills.

A public hearing was held before the meeting began, and no residents were present to voice opposition to the rate increases.

Resident Marilyn Stanley attended the hearing and said she was in favor of the raise if it meant fixing the city's sewer problems. Stanley told board members she was concerned about the noise coming from her own sewer lines.

"When it does rain, our pipes gurgle," she told the board.

During the hearing, Chad Sayre of Allstate Consultants - the city's engineering firm - gave a presentation on a proposed five-year plan for improving the city's water and sewer infrastructure. Sayre's recommendations for the sanitary system included four phases and was estimated to cost $1-2 million. His proposal for the water system included three phases and was estimated at $2-3 million. The areas where improvements were needed were outlined in the proposals.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.