The Knox City Council discussed increasing water tap fees during their meeting Tuesday.
The Knox City Council discussed increasing water tap fees during their meeting Tuesday.
In a previous Knox Board of Public Works meeting, Knox Water Department Superintendent Tim Lindewald informed the board the cost to set up new water service including tapping and boring has increased exponentially. He requested the board raise water tap fees to help the department in purchasing the materials needed for each job. Lindewald stated this increase would be in effort to keep up with the current prices of materials placed underground for water tap connections. It was noted the increase would only cover the cost of materials and not include labor and use of equipment to have city water connected.
City of Knox Mayor Dennis Estok stated a raise in water tap fees if approved, would not affect current rate users and that it would not be a rate increase on water usage. He stated the water tap fee increase would only be for those who are building new homes and would like to connect to the city water or individuals that are not on city water who would like to be connected.
The proposed increase would raise a 3/4” connection to $1,410, a 1” connection to $1,600 and anything over 1” would be determined by the water superintendent based on current meter and construction costs. The board approved raising water tap fees unanimously by vote during that meeting.
On Tuesday, Mayor Estok stated the Knox City Council would also need to approve the increase. After discussion, a motion was made to approve the first and second reading while also approving the adoption of the increase. That motion was seconded and passed unanimously by vote.
