City Council Highlights

Rob Kompel of the Glasgow Department of Public Works had some key highlights from the July 5 City Council Meeting. In addition to normal operating agenda items for the city such as decisions on employee stipends and downtown grant applications, the Council addressed sewer and water increases, a new ordinance on cats and dogs, and the Army Corps of Engineers acceptance of the System Wide Improvement Framework (SWIF) Plan for the Levee.

The issue of establishing a water and sewer rate increase of two percent a year over the next six years with the option of re-evaluating the rate at year five was approved. The total cost to the average residence would be $3.15 at the end of the six years according to Kompel. Kompel said the rate increase is a preemptive measure to ensure the funding needed for the improvements to the drinking water plant (See Mayor Erickson’s letter Water Service for the City of Glasgow in the May 4 edition of the Courier), and for increased expenses. Kompel added that it stems from lessons learned from the large rate increases seen in 2012 when the waste water plant was being repaired. Due to not having any rate increases from the early 1990’s the Public Utilities Commission would not approve a grant for the improvements until the rates were in the target range. As a result, the city is now looking to do increases incrementally in an effort to maintain the systems and preempt major repairs. “This increase is a way to keep the system funded, while keeping funds in the bank to do major repairs and improvements,” said Kompel.

The next major issue discussed during this meeting was the first reading of ordinance No. 952. The ordinance would limit the number of dogs and cats per household to a maximum of three animals. It would provide a notice and period for removal from the household, and would grandfather all households currently with more than three animals. These households would be grandfathered until the animals death, at which time the owners would then be subject to the new ordinance. The ordinance would also change the definition of an animal shelter and would require a shelter to obtain a permit.

The last key takeaway from the meeting was the Army Corps of Engineers acceptance of the Levee Safety Committees SWIF plan for making improvements and strengthening the Milk River Levee. The accepted plan was the seventh submitted by the committee. According to Kompel this is crucial because it qualifies Glasgow for federal emergency money in the event of a flood, and keeps residents and businesses from being deemed in the flood plain, which requires a separate and expensive flood insurance.