Aldermen approve adjustments to utility bills, higher park fees, meetings by Tri-Lakes Tribune

September 14, 2008 by Tri-Lakes Tribune A 5 percent increase in water rates and a 15 percent increase in sewer rates were approved on final reading by the Board of Aldermen.  The new rates will be implemented in the October billing cycle.  In September 2006, a five year water and sewer rate increase plan was presented to reverse the trend of transferring funds from the Tourism and Capital Improvement tax that is currently used to subsidize the water and sewer fund.  This is the third year of this rate increase schedule. According to city staff, water and sewer rates may have to be increased again in the 2009 fiscal year due to unforeseen jumps in the costs of electricity, chemicals and fuel. City will conduct a water and sewer rate study to fully evaluate the effects of these rising costs. Aldermen approved moving their regular bi-monthly meetings from Monday nights to Tuesday nights.  This change allows an additional day for aldermen and the public to review agendas prior to regular meetings.  The change to Tuesday nights becomes effective in October when the first Tuesday meeting would be Oct. 14.   The Board approved placing stop signs on Gretna Road at North Wildwood Drive due to the traffic increase at that intersection.   Aldermen approved the appointment of local attorney Mike Merrell as the special municipal judge for the city in the absence of current municipal judge Tom Motley.  Merrell will be paid $80 per hour. Approval was given on first reading to increase certain program fees in the Parks and Recreation Department. The cost to rent an RV space at the city owned campground will go from $23 to $25 a day.  The daily fee for the aquatic center at the RecPlex increases $1, and the fee for renting the aquatic center goes up $25 from $100 to $125.  Fees for the Pitch 'N Putt 9-hole golf course increase from $6 to $10 for adults and from $4-$6 for youth 18 and under.  The reason for these fee increases is that maintenance expenses have outpaced revenues, and also the city wants to make the programs less dependent on subsidies from other funds   The Board gave first reading approval to Anchor Fence of Springfield and Miller's Excavation of Rogersville to repair the fence and ball fields at Stockstill Park, which were heavily damaged by flash flooding in June. The cost for the fence is $19,323 and the ball fields $24,969.   At the request of City Administrator Dean Kruithof, aldermen postponed until Oct. 28 awarding a contract for the final phase of the Fall Creek Road Extension.  Kruithof cited a tight budget as the reason for the postponement, which he said would also give city staff time to look at funding options and fund availabilities.  The final phase of the Fall Creek project would straighten out the sharp curves on the road just south of the Highway 76 intersection and start constructing Fall Creek north of Highway 76 to connect with Roark Valley Road. The bid for this work came in at $3.1 million.  Aldermen approved on first reading an ordinance allowing a temporary modular building for classroom space at the new Tri-Lakes Christian Academy at the Tri-Lakes Center, 2527 Highway 248, which is also home to Tri-Lakes Church that has started the Academy.   The 24-foot by 60-foot modular building will be divided into classrooms for grades three through six.  The period is for two years and the building will be located behind the Tri-Lakes Center. -- http://www.bransonedge.com http://www.bransonmissouri.blogspot.com