By Carmen Ensinger
Winchester Mayor Rex McIntire, at the Jan. 8 city council meeting, said residents will see rate increases on their utilities in the very near future.
“In the next week or so, I will be meeting with the water, sewer and gas committees to go over rate increases,” McIntire said. “These utility rate increases aren’t going to be popular, but they are necessary.”
Several months ago, McIntire handed out a list of water rates in other nearby towns and Winchester had the lowest rates of all of them.
“We were the cheapest of all of the other towns around us and now it is time we towed the line,” he said. “It is time for us to step up because now we have to pay back this loan on the water project. We have to come up with another $100,000 a year.”
Not only do they have the water loan to pay for, but the expenses surrounding the production of water have increased dramatically
Alderman Bill Jacquot asked about a man in Jacksonville that does a rate study for municipalities for free.
“Wouldn’t it be best to wait and have this guy do a rate study first,” Jacquot said. “I’d like to get some input from this guy first.”
McIntire said that the increase they are looking at would mean an increase of approximately $10 to $12 per customer per month.
Utility Superintendent John Simmons said Rural Water raises their rates every year and they have close to $1 million in their bank account.
“I just want people to be fore warned that they have had it good for years,” McIntire said. “I talked to some people from Chapin and their minimum water rate is $56 a month for the first 2000 gallons.”
Simmons said another pump went down at the water plant and the cost to repair it is $7,347.98 from Richards Electric. The council paid to have one repaired just last month.
“This is to redo the one they just took out,” Simmons said. “Once it is replaced, we will have one on standby to put back in.”
Simmons said the water plant has cost the city a lot of money lately.
“But you have to remember that these pumps and motors run 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he said. “This pump here is a spare. They don’t last that long running 24/7 and the cost of them has tripled in the last few years.”
Simmons asked the council to approve a service contract with Hawk Industries to service the machinery at the water plant at a yearly cost of $941.
“They come out here and calibrate all of our machinery and test our components,” Simmons said. “It is like a service agreement and we have to have it.”
McIntire announced that Freddy Andrews wants to step down as fire chief.
“We are now in the process of getting feedback from the rest of the fire department to see who they would like to see as fire chief,” McIntire said. “It is hard to get people to help out, but I am trying to get someone in there that everyone will go along with and work with. I want to thank Fred for all the years of service and commitment he has given to the city as fire chief and as an alderman.”
McIntire said he and a committee consisting of Amanda Howerton and Alderwomen Teri Gregory and Melinda Hembrough met and interviewed eight or nine applicants to replace deputy clerk Hannah Schafer who resigned recently.
“It was unanimous to offer the job to Lori Lemkule,” McIntire said. “She has a fabulous personality and I think she will fit in well. She is going to be the replacement for the city collector.”
The council approved a Class A liquor license for 26 South Hill St., formerly known as the Fire House. The business was sold to Jason and LaRae Timmerman. While the couple do not live in Winchester, they will have a manager who does live in town.
“Personally, I think it is a good thing,” McIntire said. “People need another place to eat here in town and it will bring in more revenue to the city.”
McIntire said he continues to get questions about when or if the Winchester Post Office will reopen.
“I have talked to people about what is going on and even they don’t know,” McIntire said. “I was initially told that it was going to be open by the end of November. But I have been assured they will reopen.”
Alderman Ron Bell chimed in that they had found mold and asbestos in the building which caused further delays.
McIntire reminded everyone that they can do business at the Alsey Post Office every day from 2 to 4 p.m.
Herschel White, who has been an employee of the city for the past 24 years, retired on Dec. 31. A retirement party is being held for him at City Hall on Jan. 17 from 2 to 5 p.m.