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September 25, 2012

City Council OKs water increase

By Andrea McCann Washington Times Herald

WASHINGTON — The Washington City Council, at its regular meeting Monday evening, approved a 40-percent across-the board increase in water rates.

At a public hearing prior to the meeting, several residents expressed concern that they live on fixed incomes and it will be a hardship to pay the increased rates. Charlie Riker told council members they were elected to protect their constituents, and the increase is not an example of watching out for the city’s residents.

“We’re trying to work out of a bind,” said Councilman Jim Greene. “We will work out of this bind.”

He said he wasn’t blaming previous administrations, but there should have been smaller increases throughout the year to avoid getting the water utility into the situation of not having enough money to operate.

One patron said she has a family of six, so the increase will affect her household just as it will everyone else’s, but she understood the need to do what’s necessary to protect the utility.

Council President Allen Brown told patrons that council members didn’t take the decision lightly, and Councilman Mike Singleton later concurred, adding they looked into alternatives, but no grants were available and there were no other options.

There were no patron comments at a public hearing for an ordinance amending the general penalty provision of the City of Washington Code of Ordinances Section 10.99.

Both ordinances had their final reading, by title only, at the meeting and were approved.

Three other ordinances had a final reading, by title only, at the meeting and were approved. There were: an ordinance fixing the compensation of officers and employees of the city for 2013, an ordinance fixing the compensation of fireman and policemen of the city for 2013, and an ordinance fixing the salaries of the city’s elected officials for 2013. The final ordinance was the only one not unanimously approved. Councilman Eric Bassler voted “nay” after telling his fellow council members, “I continue to be uncomfortable with the amount of compensation paid to the city council members.”

In other business, one bid was received and opened for the demolition and removal of a garage at 402 W. Hefron St. Don Gress Construction bid $3,200 for the job, which is in a confined space and will be difficult to remove. The bid was forwarded to the Board of Public Works and Safety, which later approved it.

Don Spillman approached the council on behalf of the Kiwanis, telling the councilmen that the Kiwanis membership is aging and has decided to disband, effective Oct. 1. The organization offered the Kiwanis cabin, which is on park ground, to the city. The council accepted the offer pending evaluation by the city attorney.

At the Board of Public Works meeting, members approved a request by Victory Tabernacle, 1419 W. Walnut St., to close 15th Street from W. Walnut Street south to the alley on Oct. 20 for an event. The church will have food, games and a clothing giveaway.

Standard transformer agreements were approved between the city and McDonald’s restaurant and the city and Daviess County Rural Water.

After discussion of setting a 30-mph speed limit on the city’s section of Bussard Road, the action was approved.

Police Chief Mike Healy requested permission for a group to hold the Race for the Son, a scholarship benefit in memory of Derek Arvin, throughout the city. He said arrows would be painted on the streets to show the route for the 10 a.m., Nov. 3, event, and he and his officers will be on hand to lead and follow the participants. He also said the WHS DECA club would like to have a run for elementary-age children in Eastside, where the 5k run will begin and end. His requests were approved.

Debbie Neukam of the mayor’s office asked that everyone be patient with city employees as they step up to help fill the large void left with the passing of Building Commissioner Chris Wimmenauer. She said Judy Taylor of the Building Commissioner’s Office is doing everything she legally can, and Electric Department Head Randy Emmons and Street Commissioner Ernie Evans have taken on responsibility for some of the work until a replacement can be named.

“We’re doing the best we can,” she said. “He was a wealth of knowledge.”

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