Fayette’s Board of Aldermen last week gave unanimous approval to pass an ordinance that will increase the water charge to Fayette customers by $1 per 1,000 gallons used.

As was previously reported by the Fayette Advertiser, the cost of water charged by the Howard County Public Water Supply District to the City of Fayette went up by $1 per 1,000. The council voted to pass on that rise to water customers. 

Now that the council has voted to create the ordinance, it will need to vote to pass it, which is expected to occur at the council’s next meeting on Tuesday, January 24.

“They have increased what we’re paying for water,” said Mayor Jeremy Dawson. “If not, they’re running at a negative at the water plant.”

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 and will increase the average monthly bill by about $7.

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

Southwest Ward Alderman Grafton Cook said he would like to have someone from the water plant present a status report to the council. “I’d be interested in knowing how it’s running,” he said.

The city’s representative on the three-person board for the water supply district is Dashayla Bush, Fayette’s utility office manager.