The Iola Village Board approved a 3 percent water rate increase at its May 12 meeting.
The village’s last water rate increase was more than five years ago.
To increase the rate by 3 percent, the village only needs to notify the Public Service Commission. No public hearing is required.
The board also approved spending $97,000 to upgrade the water utility meters in the village.
The work will be spread over a three-year period, according to Sewer & Water Committee Chair Richard Anderson.
“This is a good time to do it because they are doing other major work,” Anderson said.
He noted that some of the meters are very outdated. The new meters will be digital and won’t need to be read manually.
“It will be a drastic improvement on our efficiency,” said Village Trustee David Harper.
The board approved purchasing a 2014 Volvo L70G wheel loader with snow plow for $81,095. It will be financed with a three-year loan, which will be repaid through monies allowed annually for equipment purchases.
A proposal to develop a capacity management plan for the village’s sanitary sewer was presented by Mary Jo Miller, project engineer with Martenson & Eisele, Inc.
Total cost will be about $11,000. The process will take a few months, with some full day meetings.
Miller noted the plan will be a requirement for municipalities by August 2016.
The board discussed the ordinance prohibiting bee hives within the village limits. The topic was tabled pending further research.