By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
City elected officials and administrators will host a town hall-style meeting later today to provide information about and answer questions regarding a slate of proposed new water and wastewater rates.
The meeting is open to the public and will begin at 6 p.m. at the Del Rio Civic Center, 1915 Veterans Blvd.
The Del Rio City Council in June approved major increases in water and wastewater rates beginning Oct. 1.
After receiving their first water bills following the increases, more than 100 Del Rioans attended a city council meeting to protest their higher bills. In November, the council learned that incorrect procedure had been followed in
approving the new rates. The council learned the city charter requires a public hearing
before the council can vote on new water and wastewater rates, so the new rates were
rescinded, returning to pre-Oct. 1 levels.
But city administrators say the new, higher water and wastewater rates are needed to fund critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects, including the development of a new
municipal water well, updating the filtration system at the water treatment plant and beginning construction on a major sewer outfall line to serve development on the city’s north side.
Tonight’s meeting will consist of a brief presentation by City Manager Shawna Burkhart, to be followed by a question-and-answer session, where members of the public are
encouraged to ask questions about the new rates.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
