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The Washington City Council met in special session last night and discussed increasing city utility rates.  City Administrator Dave Plyman said rates will need to be raised now and at the end of the city’s two-year project after the new Wastewater Treatment Plant is complete.  He cites the need for increasing the rates to cover the debt service cost of the new sewer plant.

Plyman says current rates run from $33 a month to over $62.  The proposed rates will increase in range from almost $56 to over $107.

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The City Council will have a first reading of an ordinance establishing the new rates during next week’s meeting.  The Council also met with two different search firms to continue the process of replacing City Administrator Dave Plyman.

They met with Dick Schrad, the retired City Manager of Knoxville and spoke with Richard Fursman, both of Brimeyer-Fursman from Maplewood, Minnesota and also spoke with Gary Goddard of the Mercer Group from Galesburg, Illinois.  Both agencies expressed interest in the city using their firms.

Mayor Sandra Johnson said they are meeting with another search firm next week and a final decision will be made by the end of next week.