RUSSELL — People and businesses on the Russell water system are about to start paying more.
The Russell City Council on Wednesday introduced a rate hike that will add $1.50 to the bills of residential customers who use the minimum amount, which is 1,000 gallons or less. Their bills would go from $12.50 per month to $14.00.
That accounts for most residential users, according to city clerk Joy Conley.
Users of larger amounts also would pay more; nine cents would be added to the current $2.51 for the next thousand gallons, for instance, and another nine cents per thousand for the next 8,000 gallons.
Russell also supplies much of the water used in Bellefonte, Flatwoods and Raceland and those rates also are to change.
In Bellefonte, users of 1,000 gallons or less, who currently pay $13.00, are to pay $14.50, and larger users also will see increases.
Russell supplies water in bulk to Flatwoods and Raceland. Currently the fee schedule charges $5.50 for the first thousand gallons and lesser increments for additional amounts. That is to change to a flat $1.61 per thousand gallons, which is still projected to bring in more revenue than before.
According to Conley’s estimates, if Russell sells 15 million gallons, it will bring in about $24,000, rather than $19,500 under the current schedule.
The increases are necessary because of increased costs, Mayor William Hopkins said. Russell’s bulk rate remained unchanged since 1993, he said. Residential rates haven’t gone up in several years as well.
Also on Wednesday the council adopted its $3.5 million budget, approved a salary schedule for city employees, and agreed to close part of Riverside Drive for the day on July 4.
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2652.
Local News
Water hike planned in Russell
- Local News
-
-
TIM PRESTON: Karats, peaches, wings and brews, old couches and new beauty
Weekly business column from Tim Preston.
-
Come on in!
It’s time to grab a towel, some sunscreen and your shades — pools in the Tri-State are nearing their opening dates and are bound to provide some days of fun this summer.
-
Pooches take to the street in Dog Jog
They were running with the big dogs Saturday in Grayson.
-
A Smith Branch Legacy
Six generations of Robinsons have called Smith Branch home.
-
Court battle heating up over stretch of blacktop
The court fight is just heating up over a block-long stretch of blacktop in Grayson.
More parties are piling on in the lawsuit accusing Grayson of passing an illegal ordinance to take ownership of the pavement. -
Regional jails ‘a total failure’
As the debate over a proposal to create a new Northeast Regional Jail Authority continues, some officials with the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville are watching closely.
-
Beshear in West Liberty to help in tornado recovery
State legislatures and Gov. Steve Beshear gathered in West Liberty on Friday to sign three bills that will help in the recovery efforts of the tornado-stricken town.
-
Students get more than a scoop’s share
There’s nothing more refreshing than ice cream on a hot day, and no one knows that better than the principal of Hager Elementary School in Ashland.
-
2 school aides part of drug arrests
Two elementary school aides and three other people were arrested Thursday in a Carter County drug investigation.
-
5K run main attraction for Final Friday in Greenup
Greenup’s Final Friday included the usual live entertainment and car show, but a 5K run also attracted many to town Friday evening.
- More Local News Headlines
-
TIM PRESTON: Karats, peaches, wings and brews, old couches and new beauty




