Village Board Approves First Reading Of Water Rate Hike Law

By John Larson
MAGDALENA – In the absence of any dissention from the public, the Village Board of Trustees on Monday approved the first reading of an ordinance raising fees for water, sewer and trash pickup.
The increases for the services will occur in two increments, beginning with the final passage of the ordinance in August. The final increase will come in February 2010.
Village Clerk Rita Broaddus said an easy-to-read table showing the increases will be posted at the post office, Trail’s End Market, the library and at village hall.
According to the table, for a home using 5,000 gallons of water in one month, the cost would be $21.65 beginning in February.
Sewer fees will increase accordingly. Trash pickup will go up to $12.
All residential fees combined will result in an average $6 increase monthly.
Before the final vote, Trustee Jack Fairweather recommended that a paragraph be removed from the ordinance.
“There’s a note in Section 20 that I would like removed,” Fairweather said. “It refers to utility service to families’ residences outside Magdalena.”
The note stated that “there exists an implied agreement to serve existing utility customers of the Village of Magdalena utility services under one rate structure. The following provisions will not apply to currently billed utility customers. The provisions will apply to all new applicants for services after the enactment of this ordinance.”
The board agreed on the removal of the note and approved the first reading of the ordinance.
The passage of the ordinance will take place at the Aug. 17 board meeting, following a public hearing.
In other business:
• The board tabled a discussion on retaining the village’s membership in the South Central Council of Governments.
Fairweather argued that the SCCOG does nothing productive for the village, and the $500 annual membership fee is “money we don’t need to spend.”
Broaddus said the organization provides some services behind the scenes, such as sending out letters intended to help the village’s economic development.
Fairweather said he “feels we should withdraw our membership for the next year. We can always look at it again the next time around.”
Wolfe said he “tended to agree with Jack.” The vote to table the issue resulted in a 2-2 tie, which was broken by Mayor Jim Wolfe, who voted to table. Trustees Carmen Torres and Barbara Baca voted not to table.
• Marshal Larry Cearley made a request on behalf of Magdalena EMS to have the village pay EMTs and ambulance drivers $50 per call.
He said to avoid putting them on the village payroll as salaried employees, it could be classified as a stipend “set aside for drivers and EMTs.” Broaddus said she would research the issue. The board voted to bring up the proposal at a later meeting.
In his Marshal’s report, Cearley announced there is an opening for a new deputy. He said he has previous applications from which he could choose a new hire.
• The board approved a motion raising the Judicial Education Fee from $2 to $3. The fee is paid by people who pay fines for citations in Magdalena Municipal Court.

Village Board Approves First Reading Of Water Rate Hike Law