The Pella City Council approved two ordinances increasing water and wastewater rates at their meeting Tuesday evening.

The first ordinance would increase wastewater rates by 8% starting for usage in July, which is needed to fund $6 million in Iowa DNR mandated improvements at the current facility. The second would be a 5% increase in water rates to allow the city to purchase reverse osmosis membranes for regular maintenance. The increase would result in an approximately $2.56 monthly water increase for the typical residential customer and $4.39 additional per month for wastewater services.

Council also set a public hearing for July 7th to approve a contract for service line drops to homes for Pella Fiber and approved resolutions to finalize $10.7 million in financing for the overall telecommunications utility project. Two memorandums of understanding were also approved with the Pella Community School District and Central College for the schools to help develop dedicated channels for live events and activities to be broadcast throughout the academic year.

A resolution supporting a Workforce Housing Tax Credit Application for the proposed 92-unit View Pointe development, which would require a $92,000 match, was also approved. The city expects to spend $96,000 in material costs for eclectic and telecommunication utilities to serve the new neighborhood — and those funds already committed would count toward that match for the incentive and no additional money is required.

A list of finalists for Pella’s from the Pella Civil Service Commission of four candidates was also approved, and includes:

Lt. Paul Haase – Pella, Iowa
Chief Troy Bacon – Frankfort, Indiana
Lt. Fredrick Jortner – Chesire, Connecticut
Capt. Shane McSheehy – Eustis, Florida

Following regular business, the council reviewed Airport Committee capital project priorities, as well as amended wage scales for city employees, health plan premiums and a personnel policy manual update.