The recommendations for the increase of the city’s water and sewer rate will be open for public inspection after Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

For the fourth year, the city recommended an increase of the water rate within city limits.

The 4.5 percent increase was reached through the capital asset management plan. This plan allows city officials to account for the anticipated upgrades and loan payments to calculate the annual adjustment.

With the increase, the minimum charge for 1,000 gallons or less of water used within a household will cost $11.14.

If a metered residence uses more than 10,000 gallons, the household will pay $10.72 per 1,000 gallons. Eastern will be charged a flat rate of $10.72 per 1,000 gallons of water used on campus.

Within the last four years, the increase has been as high as 11 percent.

“We are getting things under control,” Mayor John Inyart said. “What we are doing here is not only establishing a capital reserve fund for future improvements, but we are also showing the (Environmental Protection Agency) that we can continue to make payments on the money they are loaning us.”

The water/sewer rate increase will be voted on at the next City Council meeting.

“We will continue to look at this each year,” Inyart said.

The council awarded two bids for separate projects to be done within the city.

Midwest Meter from Edinburg was awarded the first bid to supply the material for replacement of the water main on 20th Street.

The project will begin this spring or summer, said Curt Buescher, director of public works.

“We are working on some staging areas, where we’re going to hold the material and keep the equipment,” Buescher said. “But once we get started, conservatively we are looking at a year and a half to do everything that it is going to take to place the main and to make all the necessary connections.”

The bid will supply about a third of the supplies needed for the total project, Buescher said.

The second bid went to General Pump and Motor Inc. from Peoria for $27,250.

With this bid, the city will buy a new influent pump and motor for the wastewater treatment plant. The project will replace the 40-year-old pump that siphons water from the sewers.

“It has been worked on to the point that it can’t be rebuilt anymore,” Inyart said.

The council also put the amendments to the liquor license ordinance on file for public inspection. With this change, the special use permit will now be available for Sunday events.

The special use permits are usually given to organizations hosting events where liquor will be sold at locations other than licensed establishments.

Previously, the special use permits were not amended when the liquor license ordinances were changed to allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays.

“This is a change that will allow a special use permit to be issued on a Sunday,” Inyart said.

The council tabled revisions to the city code for bed and breakfast establishments until next week.

The change came from the zoning board’s concerns when addressing issues concerning bed and breakfasts in the past.

“It has been revised to say certain items once instead of differently two or three times,” City Attorney Brian Bower said.

Also addressed during Tuesday’s city council meeting:

The council approved the ordinance that grants a setback variance to Harold and Robin Woods.

The road closure for the Kick Butt’s anti-smoking 5K run/walk was approved.

On April 10, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. a path from Division Street to 14th Street and from Polk Avenue to Monroe Avenue will be closed for the race.

Finally, Inyart reappointed Don Schaefer to the Airport Authority Board.

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7942 or kzyskowski@eiu.edu.