Sunday, July 20, 2008 — The Locust City Council voted to approve a sewer rate increase during the monthly meeting Thursday.

The rate change, which would equal a 20 percent increase across the board, was proposed to address the concern that the city is paying more to treat sewage than they have previously been collecting.

“This really comes as a result of a recommendation from the (Local Government Council) LGC. They told us that we need to do something to fix this concern,” said James Inman, city administrator.

The monthly rate for residential inside the city limits increased from $28 for the first 3,000 gallons to $35, which was a $7 change. For each 1,000 gallons afterwards, the rates increased by $1 to be $5.25.

Non-metered increased by $10, to a rate of $45 a month. The availability fee increased to $30, which was a $5 change.

For residents outside the city limits, their rates increased by $12 to be $62 a month for the first 3,000 gallons. For each 1,000 gallons that follow, a rate of $7.50 will be charged, which is an increase of $1.50.

For non-metered residents outside the city limits, a rate of $90 will be charged, which is a $15 increase.

Metered non-residential units inside the city limits will be charged $75 monthly for the first 3,000 gallons and $10.50 per 1,000 gallons afterwards. This was an increase of $15 and $2 respectively.

Non-metered non-residential unit will pay $75 per month, plus $2 per person on the premises, which is an increase of $15 a month. An availability fee of $50 per month will be paid by the property owner where sewer is available. This is an increase of $10.

For metered institutional units inside the city limits, a $75 monthly fee will be billed for the first 3,000 gallons with $10 per 1,000 gallons afterwards, making an increase of $25 and $3 respectively.

For non-metered institutional residents, a $75 fee will be applied monthly plus $2 per person on the premises, which is an increase of $25 monthly.

“A committee is currently meeting with the town of Oakboro,” said Councilman Larry Baucom. He hopes this will allow the city of Locust to decrease the rates in the future.

Also during the meeting:

• Mayor Pro-Tem Mike Hinson presented Charles Connell, captain with the Locust Police Department, with a plaque as he was awarded the Mayor’s Award for the second quarter of 2008. Connell has served 15 years with the city, and he looks forward to serving several more.

The Mayor’s Award is given to employees of the town who were nominated by fellow employees and chosen by the mayor as a thank you for their service to the town. Each recipient receives a plaque, a $100 gift certificate to a business of their choice and a plaque is hung at the town hall.

• Inman announced three parcels of land along Main Street were donated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), which will be used as a Main Street Mini Park.

n The council was reminded the next Council of Governments (COG) meeting will be July 29 at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center in Albemarle.

• Inman asked the council to research a good location to place signs at both ends of the city welcoming visitors. He said a design had been chosen, but NCDOT will not allow the city to place stone-work signs along the public right-of-way.

• Councilman J.C. Burris introduced new Parks and Recreation Director Dan Sullivan, who announced a new adult softball league will be starting. Registration begins Monday and will continue through Aug. 22. Registration forms can be picked up at Locust City Hall.

• Sullivan also announced the Movies-in-the-Park is still going on. Entertainment will be provided beginning at 7 p.m. prior to the movies, which will begin at sunset. The next movie is Aug. 15 and the last will be Sept. 5.

• Baucom announced the new public works facility was complete in June. The facility, which is now along Brown’s Hill Road in the industrial park, will provide storage space for the public works equipment. A fence will soon be installed to provide security for the facility.

• Four public hearings were set for the next council meeting on Aug. 7 beginning at 7 p.m. The first hearing will allow residents to voice concerns about the rezoning of 523 N. Central Ave. from general residential to highway commercial.

The second is to discuss a flood plain ordinance, and the third is to discuss the golf cart ordinance, which has been made possible after the state legislature voted to allow Locust and other municipalities to regulate the use of golf carts within city limits.

The fourth public hearing will allow discussion of an ordinance that will ban sex offenders from entering public parks.

• Stan Priest, a resident of Locust, presented the Locust Historical Society and Museum with a 1967 telephone book from the city.

• Councilman Joel Huneycutt announced the town was awarded three grants. The first was a matching grant awarded by NCDOT for $20,000, which will allow the city to plan for bicycle and pedestrian paths.

The second grant was for $39,425 from the Rural Center for economic infrastructure improvements, which will assist with the Chicago Tube and Iron project.

The third, which was also awarded by the Rural Center, was for $15,000 with a matching amount of $5,000 by the city, which will be used for creating the city’s master plan.

Huneycutt thanked city employees for the work they do in making it possible for the city to receive these kinds of financial assistance.