Valuation jump allows levy drop

To comply with state laws governing the budget process, members of the Superior City Council held three meetings Monday evening. Two were very short, lasting about 3 minutes each. However, the series of meetings will impact the pocketbook of Superior residents and property owners for the budget and utility rates for the coming fiscal year were set along with the city employee salary schedule.

Of all the financial goings-on Monday evening, the utility rates will have the most immediate impact on residents and are perhaps the easiest to understand.

For the fourth straight year, there will be no change in the electric rates. For the third straight year, the natural gas rates are also remaining unchanged. Water and sewer rates will be increasing in October.

Residential water rates will increase approximately 1.3 per cent and commercial rates about 3.14 percent. The average residential customer uses 7,000 gallons per month during the winter. The average commercial customer uses 12,000 gallons per month during the winter.

The sewer hike is more substantial. The residential sewer rate will increase an average of 4.03 percent and the commercial rate an average of 2.67 percent.

The property tax request was also approved. While the request is up about 4 percent, the valuation increase of 4.5 percent will result in a slight levy decrease. The city will request property taxpayers contribute $364,105. The tax rate will be -.370412 per $100 of assessed value.

Based on the property tax requests and other sources of income, the city budget is declining 13.35 percent.

When it came to salaries, the council approved giving city employees a 2.219 percent cost of living increase.

In other than financial matters, the council accepted the immediate resignation of Stuart Alsup as city clerk. In his letter of resignation, Alsup indicated he had accepted an opportunity with the Edward Jones Company. Jan Diehl, the former city clerk, was appointed acting clerk while the search for a permanent replacement is underway.

The council approved hiring Max Wangler to fill the vacant lineperson position on the electrical crew. He will be coming to Superior from Sarcoxie, Missouri. He is a graduate of North American Lineman Training Program of McEwen, Tennessee, and holds a certificate in power line construction and maintenance. He was one of three applicants interviewed for the position. He is expected to begin work here on Sept. 23.

The council approved withdrawing from the Nuckolls County Foundation approximately $2,700 which remained from a previous park improvement project. The money will be used to provide free swimming lessons in future years. At the current enrollment rate, there is sufficient money to provide free lessons for five years.