Laserfiche WebLink
Regular Council Meeting <br />June 14, 2021 <br />Page 4 <br />ARTICLE A10.000, "UTILITY RATES," SECTION A10.003, "WATER RATES," OF <br />THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS TO REFLECT <br />CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY THE 2021 WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDY; <br />PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS <br />CLAUSE, A PENALTY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. <br />Finance Director Gene Anderson said the City had treated water contracts with four local <br />industries and one of the requirements of those contracts was for the City to have an independent <br />rate consultant conduct a cost of service study each year. Mr. Anderson introduced Chris Ekrut <br />with NewGen Strategies & Solutions. <br />Mr. Ekrut presented the 2021 Water and Wastewater Cost of Service Study. He reviewed <br />the water and wastewater retail increase of June 2020, the wastewater retail rate increase of <br />February 2021, and the rate maintenance policy established in 2010, which required the setting <br />of water and wastewater rates. Next, Mr. Ekrut reviewed the findings which were as follows: 1) <br />water utility retail revenue requirement increased 1.4% over prior fisal year; 2) wastewater utility <br />retail revenue requirement increased 1.9% over prior fiscal year (WWTP debt recognized in FY <br />2022); 3) currently, funds are sufficient to satisfy the Rate Maintenance Policy's Interest and <br />Sinking Fund, Reserve Fund, and Contingency Fund requirements; 4) retail water rates are <br />currently insufficient (residential consumption decreased by 5.0% and commercial consumption <br />decreased by 3.4%); and 5) the City adopted wastewater rate increases every six months through <br />April 2026 in consideration of the future WWTP Investment. Mr. Ekrut explained the proposed <br />residential and commercial water rate increases in monthly bills, which included the size of pipes <br />and usage. <br />Following discussion and explanations by Mr. Ekrut, a Motion to approve this item was <br />made by Council Member Pilgrim and seconded by Council Member Hughes. Motion carried, 7 <br />ayes — 0 nays. <br />11. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2021-017: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY <br />COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING RUSSELL G. <br />THRASHER AS THE EMS DIRECTOR AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY <br />MANAGER IN CONFORMANCE WITH SECTION 23 OF THE CITY CHARTER; <br />MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; <br />AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. <br />City Manager Grayson Path said Kent Klinkerman retired in November and the interview <br />team composed of him, Thomas McMonigle and Sandy Collard went through the process of <br />finding the next EMS Director. Mr. Path said he was pleased to select Russell Thrasher as his <br />selection for EMS Director, that he had over twenty years of service with the City EMS <br />Department, and had served as Interim EMS Director for the last six months. Mr. Path also said <br />Mr. Thrasher had done an outstanding job taking on a massive workload while also combatting <br />Co-Vid-19 in the community. <br />Council Member Savage said he had spoken to a number of people and that Russell <br />Thrasher did not do a good job but a great job. He said Mr. Thrasher was a great selection. <br />