Rate schedule for utilities to increase July 1

by Angie Asam– Staff Writer

Following many budget workshops and crunching the numbers the Rogers City council has been wrestling with the idea of increasing water, sewer and trash rates to aid in the budget of the city. Not one council member was jumping up and down ready to make a motion on the increases but it had to be done.

The commodity charge for water will go down from $1.60 to $1.40 per 100 cubic feet of water usage while the billing and ready to serve charge will increase from $3 per month to $5.90 per month. The capital charge will also increase to $6 from $3. The billing charge has not been changed since 2000 while the capital charge has been the same since 2004. Trash collection rates will go up just 25 cents in all categories. This is also the time of year that residents choose to be full service, basic service or use the cart service. All of the rate increases will become effective on July 1 of this year. ?The council has wrestled with this and it is not something we wanted to do,? said mayor Beach Hall.

IN OTHER CITY COUNCIL NEWS: ? City attorney Mike Vogler has a new contract, which will include a pay raise. The contract is good for three years. Mayor Pro Tem Deb Greene was not happy with the pay raise as she thought it was too hefty of a raise for her liking. After much debate between council members of how much exactly the raise was, as Vogler has seen no raise in three years and won?t see a raise for the next two years, a motion was put forth and passed with Greene voting no.

? The Presque Isle County Men?s Softball League was granted use of Sports Park for their annual all night softball tournament sche

duled for July 11. The event has been held for the last five years and has not provided any problems according to Chief Matt Quaine and others.

? The managers evaluation has been completed and reviewed and will now be placed in the city?s personnel files. The council also moved to conduct a managers evaluation yearly beginning in May and discussing the evaluation at the first meeting in June.

? The annual tax collection report was accepted by the council and will be placed on file. Tax numbers went up a bit and there is still a long list of delinquent taxes to be paid that will be worked on in the near future.

? The VSCI grant agreement has been received for an amount of $517,500. Following review by attorney Vogler it will be signed by the manager, the fa?ade owners, the attorney and senior center officials. It will be returned and work can begin on the many projects.