BELLE — Belle aldermen on Sept. 10 approved the first reading of Ordinance 641, to increase water rates for residential, commercial and tax-exempt consumers. In July, the board discussed increasing rates by 25 percent per bill and to revisit them again after six months for another 25 percent increase.

The ordinance was first presented during the Aug. 13 meeting, but was delayed when Alderman Kevin Guffey said the math was incorrect and wording was a concern. The original ordinance was included in the Sept. 10 meeting packet to The Advocate, but an updated version was later provided upon request. The board passed the first reading of the updated version of Ordinance 641 by title only with a 3-0 vote during the Sept. 10 meeting.

According to Ordinance 641, a commercial consumer “inside city limits of Maries or Osage county” will pay $16.80 for the first 1,000 gallons of water consumed and 85 cents for each additional 500 gallons. After six months from its passage, the base rate will increase to $25.96 for the first 1,000 gallons and $1.02 per gallon after.

For commercial consumers “outside city limits of Maries and Osage county” the rate will be $23.30 for the first 1,000 gallons and 85 cents for each additional 500 gallons. After six months from the approval of the ordinance, the base rate will increase to $34.13 for the first 1,000 gallons and $1.02 for each additional 500 gallons.

For residential consumers “inside city limits of Maries or Osage county” the base rate will be $16.80 for the first 1,000 gallons and 85 cents for each additional 500 gallons. After six months from ordinance passage, the base rate will increase to $25.96 for the first 1,000 gallons and $1.02 for each additional 500 gallons.

For residential consumers “outside city limits of Maries or Osage county,” the base rate will be $23.30 for the first 1,000 gallons and 85 cents for each additional 500 gallons. After six months from approval of the ordinance, the base rate will increase to $34.13 for the first 1,000 gallons, and $1.02 for each additional 500 gallons.

For a tax-exempt consumer “inside city limits Maries or Osage county,” the base rate would be $16.31 for the first 1,000 gallons and 85 cents for each additional 500 gallons. Six months after the ordinance passes, the base rate will increase to $25.25 for the first 1,000 gallons and $1.02 for each additional 500 gallons.

For a tax-exmempt consumer “outside city limits Maries or Osage county,” the base rate will be $23.30 for the first 1,000 gallons and 85 cents for each additional 500 gallons. Six months from the ordinances passage, the base rate will increase to $34.13 for the first 1,000 gallons and $1.02 for each additional 500 gallons.

A special rate for golf courses has a base rate of $16.80 for the first 1,000 gallons and 62 cents for each additional 500 gallons. Six months following passage of the ordinance, the base rate will increase to $25.96 for the first 1,000 gallons and 62 cents for each additional 500 gallons.

There will be a new flat rate of $50 for churches “inside or outside city limits of Maries or Osage county” unless or until a meter is installed. Then the current tax-exempt rate will apply.

According to the city’s online code book dated March 9, 2021, rates for the commercial consumer “inside Maries or Osage counties” was $7.64 for the first 1,000 gallons and 68 cents per each 500 gallons after. Commercial consumers “outside of Maries County” paid $12.47 and “outside of Osage County” paid $8.41 for the first 1,000 gallons and 68 cents per each 500 gallons after.

Residential rates “inside both counties” are $7.64 for the first 1,000 gallons and 68 cents per each additional 500 gallons. Residential consumers “outside of both counties” are $12.47 for the first 1,000 gallons and 68 cents per additional 500 gallons.

Tax-exempt consumer rates “inside of both counties” are $7.37 per the first 1,000 gallons and 68 cents per additional 500 gallons. Rates for tax-exempt “outside of both counties” are $12.47 per the first 1,000 gallons and $7.37 per each additional 500 gallons.

The special golf course rate is $7.64 per the first 1,000 gallons and 31 cents per each additional 500 gallons.

Alderman Steve Vogt introduced the topic to those present.

“We are getting rates up to apply for grants,” Vogt said. “These were last changed in 1994. Nothing else I could find since then.”

Aldermen plan to approve the final passage of Ordinance 641 on Oct. 8 during the regular meeting.