By BRIAN SMITH
HUDSON OAKS — Residents here will begin seeing an increase in their water rates starting in April after a city council decision Thursday night.
An increase of between 2 percent and 6 percent depending on usage was approved by the council. The idea for the staggered increase came from council member Dan David who stated he believed that “everyone that benefits from the water system should pay.”
The other two proposals being considered included one with a flat 4 percent increase in both tiered usage and the flat base rate. The other included making those in the top tiers pay for the bulk of the usage.
Mayor Pro Tem Tom Fitzpatrick asked if the increase was related to the Splash Kingdom Wild West Water Park coming online this spring and was told no. Assistant City Administrator Patrick Lawler said the park will be using its own well but will fill its pools via a pair of two-inch meters.
Lawler said what the park will be using amounts to about 10 residential pools. City Administrator Sheri Campbell-Husband said the city will be sending out a letter explaining the increase and what the reason behind it is.
The increase will bring in an estimated $38,000 per year. Funds will be used for work on the Red Eagle pump station and to tie in with the Dyegard system, Lawler said.
Lawler said the last rate increase was three years ago and is less because of the continued growth in the city.
In other news, after several rounds of debate, a preliminary choice has been made for the city’s new logo, but not without a debate.
The logo decision is part of the city’s new branding campaign, designed to give the city a more modern, aesthetically pleasing look. The new logo will have a blue H with a green O wrapped around the middle of it.
Campbell-Husband said the new logo will be unveiled once the city has a new slogan in place. The logo will be placed on the city’s water tower, stationery and other places.
Council members narrowed their choices down to three and each choice got two votes originally. Discussion ensued and the blue H and green O won out.
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