Higher water, sewer rates start in May; entry signs back to the drawing board

McCOOK, Neb. — Despite the 6% increase in city water rates the McCook City Council approved Monday night, residential customers may still see a slight decrease in their bills compared to last year.

That’s because the Nebraska Legislature passed a law last year that exempts sales tax on residential water bills, said Jesse Dutcher, City of McCook utility director. The law went into effect in October 2021, Dutcher told the city council.

Sales tax is still assessed on sewer rates. Along with the 6% increase in water rates, the council also unanimously approved a 3% rate increase in sewer rates Monday night.

Both increases were approved on the third and final reading Monday night. The higher rates will go into effect in May.

Dutcher told the council he compared the new 6% rate in McCook with water usage rates in the similarly-sized towns of York and Aurora, Neb., with McCook coming in between the two at $66.53 per month, using $2.035 for the first 5,000 cubic feet. (York was $60.84 per month and Aurora, $76.52 per month.)

Councilman Gene Weedin said in the future he’d like the council to look at a two-tiered system of water rates based on usage.

City Manager Nate Schneider also gave the council an update on entry signs to the city, with the project essentially “back to the drawing board.”

In talking with the Nebraska Department of Roads, Schneider said the original idea of installing electronic signs will not be feasible as there are limitations on what can be put on the signs, such as advertising local events.

Instead, city staff is looking at using monument-style entry signs, he said. Locations of the signs that have been discussed include the northwest entrance to the city, at the junction of U.S. Highway 83/U.S. Highway 6-34 and the southeast entrance of the city, at south U.S. Highway 83. A total of $25,000 has been budgeted for the signs.