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RESOLUTION 2014- —0 61 9 <br /> "A Resolution to Provide Oversight of Utility Ratel" <br /> (W <br /> WHEREAS, the City of Batesville provides water and wastewater sery ces to its citizens and <br /> other entities through its Utilities Department's operation of a Water Treatment Facility together with a <br /> water distribution system and a Wastewater Treatment Facility together with a wastewater collection <br /> system; and <br /> WHEREAS, historically the City of Batesville has demonstrated a pattern of adjusting rates <br /> associated with the cost of operation of these water and wastewater services on a very sporadic timetable <br /> often resulting in very significant increases followed by several years of no change whatsoever even <br /> though costs have often continued to rise on an annual basis; and <br /> WHEREAS, it is important to ensure the continued delivery of these essential services in a timely <br /> manner and at reasonable costs to its customers; and <br /> WHEREAS, significant and unexpected rate increases create exceptional burdens for residential, <br /> industrial and wholesale customers and their budgeting cycles; and <br /> WHEREAS,annual, and automatic increases that are commensurate wth inflation in the costs <br /> associated with the operation of the Utilities Department including, but not lim ted to,the purchase of <br /> goods and services used by the Utilities Department such as chemicals, electricity, construction materials <br /> and equipment, labor and insurance will provide increased stability to the Utility Department and provide <br /> better budgetary expectations for its customers. <br /> NOW THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Ba esville, Arkansas that: <br /> Section 1. Prior to the passage of its yearly budget, the Utilities Department will <br /> provide to the City Council a comparative report on its current yearly operatior al expenses in comparison <br /> to the previous year. <br /> Section 2. In addition, the Utilities Department will provide to the City Council a <br /> water and wastewater rate study conducted every three years, beginning in 2017, to ensure that rates <br /> charged for these services remain competitive with similar cities in Arkansas. <br /> Section 3. Each year, during the budgeting process the City Council will determine if <br /> any rate increase or rate decrease is warranted to fulfill the spirit of this Resolu ion. <br /> This RESOLUTION adopted this 8th day of July, 2014. <br /> Mayor Rick Elumbaugh <br /> A st: <br /> Denise Johnston, City Clerk <br />