WATER RATES MAY GO UP IN JACKSON

JACKSON -- Water provided by the City of Jackson will cost most users more under a plan presented to the Jackson Board of Aldermen Tuesday.

The proposed new fee structure would remain at $4 for those who use less than 1,000 gallons, which includes many people with fixed incomes. The rate per 1,000 gallons would increase by 75 cents each step afterward, beginning with the next 4,000 gallons of use.

The increase is needed to compensate for a projected annual $300,000 shortfall in revenues needed to service the city's $3.165 million water bond and to make improvements in the city's water delivery system planned through 2005.

Some of those improvements include digging wells next year and perhaps in 2001, a $300,000 expenditure in each case, along with making fire flow improvements and replacing water lines.

The proposed rates would put Jackson's fees in line with those charged in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Sikeston would have slightly lower fees.

The average use in Jackson is 110 gallons per person per day. The average water bill is $12.

The study of the city's potable water user charge system was conducted by the St. Louis consulting firm of Burns and McDonnell.

The last increase in Jackson's water charges was made in 1991.

If approved by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the new rate structure could be in place by the beginning of 2000, according to Public Works Director Jim Roach.

In other business, the board authorized design of a secondary electric feeder line into the city. The city currently is served by a single line from Center Junction, Roach said. If the line were lost due to a storm or some other circumstance, residents would be left without power although the City of Jackson has its own generators.

"It's basically a backup," Roach said.

The 3.7-mile line will run along Bainbridge Road and East Main Street. Construction is expected to start next year.

City Administrator Steve Wilson said the city has been working to acquire the line for the past 10 years.