Other business
In other action Thursday night, the Flowery Branch City Council voted to:
- Approve on first reading a new sign ordinance for the historic district, which was redrawn in 2008.
- Give final OK to annexing 6.4 acres off McEver Road near Gaines Ferry Road. The council also voted to annex the property as highway business. No development is planned.
- Delay considering a one-year lease with North Georgia Counseling and Education Center for downtown city-owned property. Council members had concerns about the center's activities and hours, especially located next to Fifth Row Center, a community theater group.
Low water and sewer users in Flowery Branch likely will catch a break on their water bills starting in November.
City Council agreed Thursday night to create a rate structure for residents who use less than 1,000 gallons of water and sewer per month and residents who use between 1,001 and 2,500 gallons per month.
Minimum charges, as had been proposed, were based on 4,500 gallons or less.
The council is set to vote Sept. 23 on a new rate structure for all residential and commercial users, one that ends the city's practice of charging residents different amounts based on how long they have lived in the city.
Current rates have "established" residential customers paying $19.90 monthly for using up to 4,500 gallons of water and $22.39 for up to 4,500 gallons of sewer.
"New" residential customers, or those who moved into the city after June 2000, now pay $24.89 for up to 4,500 gallons of water and $29.87 for up to 4,500 gallons of sewer.
To have all users pay the same, established customers would now pay the new customer rates, meaning basic water-sewer rates would go up a combined $12.47 monthly, or about $150 yearly, for longtime residents.
At the council's Aug. 26 meeting, longtime resident Henry Skipper asked the council to consider a system of charging residents based on how much they use, rather than how much they can use.
And council members asked city officials to look at water usage amounts and other potential breaks for low water and sewer users.
City Manager Bill Andrew reported his findings to council members Thursday.
City officials have determined that during July and August, 59 of the city's 943 water accounts showed usage of less than 1,000 gallons per month and 90 showed usage of between 1,001 and 2,500 gallons on average.
He proposed, based on the single-family residential rate for Flowery Branch residents, the city could charge $5.53 for up to 1,000 gallons of water and sewer; $8.30 for 1,001 to 2,500 gallons; and $24.89 for 2,501 to 4,500 gallons.
The single-family residential rate for users outside the city would follow the same usage structure but at a 33 percent higher rate.
Andrew said he believes that additional revenue from the higher rates across the board will more than make up the loss in revenue from the reduced rates for low water and sewer users.
Skipper talked again to council, as the only speaker on a public hearing set on the matter.
"I think we need to do something for these people who are 80, 90 years old that will not put them below poverty, and I appreciate you doing it," he said.
The new rate structure, if approved, would go into effect in October, with the first bills going out in November, City Clerk Melissa McCain said.