The Fayette Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance to increase water rates for the city’s residential and business customers. The 5-0 vote came during the council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, January 24. The new rates will go into effect on February 1.

The current rate for water to Fayette residential customers is $9.23 per 1,000 gallons. The new rate will be $10.23 per 1,000 gallons, increasing the average monthly bill by about $7.

The cost for commercial customers will increase from $10.01 to $11.01.

As was previously reported in the Fayette Advertiser, the Howard County Public Water Supply District hiked the rate it charges the City of Fayette by $1 per 1,000 gallons. The council voted to pass on that increase to water customers.

Representatives for the water district were scheduled to appear before the council at Tuesday’s meeting but canceled due to the forecasted winter weather. They are expected to attend the council’s next meeting on February 14.

The ordinance also raises charges to install new water services. The cost for the city to install new service on the same side of the street is now $1,250, and $2,000 to install service on the opposite side of the road.

“If you build a new house and you put a new service in, we were losing money on that,” explained Fayette’s Director of Public Works, Danny Dougherty. 

The city also charges for time and materials to bore beneath or parallel to streets and for commercial water meters.

The city’s Board of Aldermen meets regularly at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month in City Hall. Meetings are open and the public is invited.