Chamois aldermen approve water, sewer rate increases
BY THERESA BRANDT
UD Staff Writer
CHAMOIS — On Friday, Chamois aldermen approved a rate increase for water and …
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CHAMOIS — On Friday, Chamois aldermen approved a rate increase for water and sewer accounts, effective Sept. 1. Ordinance #667 amended the city’s water rates, and Ordinance #668 increased the city’s sewer rates. Both were approved and will guarantee additional annual rate increases for the next four years.
Beginning on Sept. 1, the city’s water rates will go from the current minimum rate of $20.50 per month to $23.50. For customers exceeding the minimum of 1,000 gallons of water, the volume rate will also increase from $5.50 to $6 per 1,000 gallons of water. Aldermen estimate that customers will typically average between $29.10 and $47.50 per month on their water bill. The city estimates that the first year’s price increase will net the city $92,248.08, compared to the current income of $81,823.24.
The approved ordinance also sets price increases for an additional three years.
— On Sept. 1, 2025, the monthly cost for the 1,000-gallon minimum will increase to $26.50, and water over the minimum will increase to $6.75 per 1,000 gallons.
— On Sept. 1, 2026, the cost will go up to $30 per month for the minimum charge, and everything over the minimum will be $7.50 per month.
— The final approved cost increase will be on Sept. 1, 2027. The minimum charge will be $32 per month, and anything more than the minimum of 1,000 gallons will be $9 per 1,000 gallons.
The goal is to increase the water revenue to $128,796 by 2027.
Aldermen also approved Ordinance #668 to amend the city’s sewer rates beginning on Sept. 1, from $20.50 per month to $25. For customers using more than the minimum of 1,000 gallons of water, the volume rate will also increase from $5.50 to $6 per 1,000 gallons of water. The city estimates that customers will typically average between $30.60 and $49 per month for their sewer bill. The city estimates that the first year’s price increase will net the city $96,190.08, compared to the current income of $81,823.24.
The approved ordinance also sets price increases for the next three years.
— The price will increase to $26 per month for a minimum of 1,000 gallons on Sept. 1, 2025, and the cost over the minimum will increase to $7.50 per 1,000 gallons.
— On Sept. 1, 2026, the minimum charge will increase to $27 per month, and everything over the minimum will be $9 per 1,000 gallons.
— The final approved cost increase will be on Sept. 1, 2027. The minimum charge for 1,000 gallons will increase to $28 per month, and any gallons sold over the minimum will be $10 per 1,000 gallons.
The goal is to increase the water revenue to $123,592 by 2027.
The ordinance allows the city to increase sewer rates even more if the income is not sufficient to sustain the system, make principal and interest payments when they are due, and if the city is not able to increase the net revenues on hand.
No aldermen were happy about the rate increases, but they felt they had no choice but to approve them as presented by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
“I don’t want to do this,” said Mayor Marie Slusser. “I know everyone is struggling and everyone is going through hard times, but we have no choice.”
According to Slusser, DNR presented the rate increase as the only option and had to be approved for the city to receive grant money and low-interest loans to complete the well project.
“This is what DNR is requesting,” Slusser said. “People are going to be mad.”
“I work my butt off, and I can barely keep up,” said Alderman Cheyanna Wolfe. “I’m frustrated for all of us. I’m not worried about people being mad at us; I’m worried about people being able to survive.”
City Clerk Megan Birmingham and Slusser noted that according to DNR, the city would go in the hole with the current rates. DNR insists the new rates are necessary to set the city’s water and sewer system up to be self-sustaining.
“We’re eventually going to be at a base rate of $76 per month,” said City Treasurer Theresa Walter. “That’s for people who don’t use much water. Families aren’t going to be able to afford this. We have people on payment plans now.”
Slusser noted that aldermen may need to let people on established payment plans come back to address them and make adjustments as the new rates go into effect.
“I’m really worried about the senior citizens in our city, especially with the high cost of medicines,” Slusser said. “But this is something we have to do. We don’t have any choice. DNR is requesting a rate increase in order for us to receive the State Revolving Fund (SRF). They want to make sure we can keep up. To be honest, I don’t want to raise the rates at all. I think our rates are high as they are.”
Aldermen also amended the city’s existing water ordinance (#665) regarding unpaid utility bills. Several changes were made to the ordinance, including dropping the late fee from 10% to 5%. Wolfe suggested the reduction in the late payment, noting that while the aldermen felt their hands were tied in raising the water and sewer rates, they had the ability to lower the late fee.
Walter noted that not many people would be helped by this change.
“The majority of our residents pay on time, but reducing it to five percent would be fair,” Walter said.
“It might help some people,” Slusser added.
“DNR is making us raise the rates, so let’s do what we can,” said Alderman Lacey Garrett.
Another significant change to Ordinance #665 was that landlords would no longer be held responsible for their tenant’s utility bills.
“The landlords should not be responsible for the tenant’s bill because it is not their bill,” Slusser said.
She added that moving forward, aldermen are going to keep utility bills within the $250 deposit required of all customers. She believes the deposit should be equal to about two months’ utility bills. Slusser went on to explain that she thought it was unfair from the landlords’ point of view to be responsible for their tenant’s utility bills.
“I agree,” said Alderman Cole Schaben. “I don’t think the landlords should suffer because of their tenants.”
Schaben also believes that the city may have to absorb some of the high unpaid utility bills because Chamois may be unable to collect the money, especially from tenants who are renting and don’t own their properties.
Another change to Ordinance #665 will be that renters and property owners will pay the same deposit of $250; previously, renters were assessed a high deposit. Landlords and property owners are still responsible for the monthly minimum sewer and water rates if the property is unoccupied.
In other business, the Chamois Aldermen approved Ordinance #670, which aims to keep “the public peace.”
The new ordinance defines a private peace disturbance as someone on private property causing alarm to another person on the same property by threatening a person or fighting. The new ordinance defines disorderly conduct as an act committed in a “public place” where a person causes public danger, alarm, or a nuisance by committing an act in a violent manner towards another that places someone’s life in danger or injury to health, commits an act of violence against another person’s property that causes damage or destruction or “causes, provokes, or engages in any fight, brawl or other riotous conduct that would endanger life, limb, health, or the property of another,” or interferes with someone’s occupation by an act of violence, obstructs the flow of traffic and refuses to clear when directed by law enforcement, is under the influence of drugs or alcohol in a public place, or resists or obstructs the performance of the official duties of a police officer, incites a riot, addresses abusive language towards law enforcement or city officials, disturbs public or personal property, “makes loud, boisterous and unreasonable noises or disturbances” to the annoyance of other people, fails to obey a lawful order, or uses or makes an obscene gesture. The ordinance also lists loitering in public places and around private residences as disturbing the peace.
The ordinance was passed at the request of City Marshal Riley Lewis and will go into effect immediately.
Remaining business will be presented next week.