Published: July 17, 2008 12:03 pm         

T-town residents may see hike in water rates

TEUTOPOLIS — Teutopolis residents may face water and sewer rate increases in the near future, depending on what the village board decides to do.

Trustee Kurt Schmidt said he would prepare a proposed rate sheet for the board’s Aug. 6 meeting. Officials said it was possible both water and sewer rates could increase by 5 percent.

Trustee John Mette said some sort of increase was necessary, particularly because the village wants to complete several sewer projects.

“You can’t fix anything if you don’t have the money,” Mette said.

Upcoming projects include replacement of a force main at a lift station, replacement of the old cast iron sewer mains with plastic pipe, and — ultimately — a new sewer plant.

In other action Wednesday, the board passed its annual appropriation ordinance, allowing officials to spend up to $3,147,350 during the current fiscal year, which began May 1. Typically, nowhere near that amount is ever spent. There were no significant changes between the ordinance passed Wednesday and previous appropriation ordinances.

The board also awarded bids for street maintenance to Larry Heuerman Trucking, $17,799.76 for seal coat, $12,325.65 for crushed stone and $2,616.25 for prime coat. The board also accepted a bid from Effingham Asphalt of $4,975 for patch mix.

In other action Wednesday, the board:

• Extended a cable television franchising agreement with Mediacom for three months.

• Annexed a small piece of land belonging to Charles Heuerman on the west edge of the village.

• Bought a refurbished copy machine from IKON Office Solutions for $1,700.

• Paid Kiefer Bros. of Mount Carmel $34,125 for work on the Main Street water main project.

Bill Grimes can be reached at 347-7151 ext. 132 or bill.grimes@

effinghamdailynews.com.