Grand Saline Council Revises Water Rates

GRAND SALINE—City officials hope to see water sales reach projections this year with a restructuring of its water and wastewater rates.

The new rates were approved Tuesday night by the Grand Saline City Council and, according to city administrator Stephen Ashley, represent a shift from selling meters to selling water.

The new residential rates inside the city limits include a base charge of $17 for the first 2,000 gallons on a 3/4-inch meter. That base rate is higher for larger meters, up to $66.50 for a 2-inch meter.

Water usage will be charged at $1.60 per 1,000 gallons from 2,001 to 5,000 gallons and goes up in price per 1,000 gallons from that point.

"Residents will use, on average, about 5,000 gallons per month. This new rate will have more of an effect on those who use more water," Ashley told council members.

"I think what it will do is help promote water conservation," he added.

Included in the approved ordinance are separate rate tables for commercial, multi-family (such as apartments, nursing homes and hotels/motels) and industrial.

Ashley said another major change is in the rates outside the city limits, which will now be double the inside city limits rates.

However, Ashley added, "In checking with other cities, we are still going to be the lowest (cost) water supplier in Van Zandt County."

The council also approved ordinances covering wastewater rates and utility rates. Ashley said the new residential wastewater rate is capped at 15,000 gallons.

One new wrinkle to the utility rates will be a credit back of the initial deposit for single-family property owner accounts after 18 consecutive months of excellent payment history.

The council also approved the city’s fiscal year 2008-2009 budget and tax rate. The tax rate will remain at .68749 per $100 assessed valuation.

Of that amount, 38.380 cents will be used to fund maintenance and operation, while the other 30.369 cents will go toward the city’s debt service.

Also in Tuesday’s meeting, the city council amended its personal policy to adopt an overtime exemption establishing a 42.75-hours workweek for law enforcement employees.

Ashley said the exemption was recommended by the Texas Municipal League. He also said that after discussions with Grand Saline Police Department employees, a change to a 12-hour shift schedule was in the works.

Officers will work six 12-hour shifts and one eight-hour shift over a two-week period under the plan, Ashley said.

Grand Saline Police Chief Larry Compton, who was at Tuesday’s meeting, said he was not present at the discussions but would agree to the changes if the officers agreed to them.

Council member Don Yarbrough voted against the measure, stating he did not think it fair for law enforcement officials to have to work more hours than other city employees did before being eligible for overtime pay.

In other matters, the council took the following action:

— Approved citywide fall cleanup dates of Oct. 17 and 18 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.

— Approved a request from the Grand Saline Main Street Program to close Green Street from Pacific to the alley at the fire station for National Night Out on Oct. 7.

— Approved solid waste disposal rates.

— Approved an agreement for community restitution with Van Zandt County Adult Probation.