Erath water rates will increase in 2014

After 11 years of keeping the water rates the same price, the Erath aldermen decided to raise the rates because the town is losing money.

The water plant has been operating for 11 years and when it first went into production, the aldermen set the rates at $9 for the first 2,000 gallons of water $2 for the next 1,000 gallons.  The commercial rate was $13 for the first 1,000 gallons.

Well, after getting a report from the Rural Water Association that Erath was charging its customers too little, the aldermen talked about increasing the water rates.

At Tuesday night’s aldermen meeting, the aldermen approved the increase.

The rates for residents will be $11 for the first 1,000 gallons and $4.50 for  every 1,000 gallons afterwards. Residential use jumps $2 a month.

Commercial, on the other hand, also jumps $2 per month to $15 for the first 2,000 gallons and $4.70 for every 1,000 gallons afterwards.

The new rates will kick in on Jan. 1, 2014. The customers will see the rate increase on their February bill of 2014.

Also, at the meeting, alderman John Earl LeBlanc made a motion to have the future public works building named after former Erath mayor George Dupuis, who recently passed away.

Construction on the building will begin this summer and the building will be built behind the new fire station on the La 14 Bypass.

The aldermen also voted to give its workers Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off and New Years’ Eve and New Years Day off.