Sewer rates to increase

Sewer rates will increase following both a public hearing and the adoption of an ordinance by the City Council. The increase is needed, city officials said, to pay for improvements required to meet state regulations governing ammonia in waste water discharge.

Council members also accepted the bid from Seven Valley’s Concrete for $736,786 to the improvements to the wastewater treatment plant.

Bonds of up to $1,735,000 will be sold to fund the project and to refinance to lower rates of interest. The Council approved a resolution authorizing Williams and Anderson PLC as bond counsel.

Ken Hayes, water/wastewater department superintendent, told the Council that there are 2,300 services/homes connected to

“Pea Ridge is very fortunate to not have a phosphorous limit; all the other numbers are good. We just need to get the ammonia down.”

Ken Hayes Water/wastewater department superintendent

Pea Ridge water. He said that even with the increase, Pea Ridge water and sewer rates will be in about the middle of affordability compared to other municipalities in the area.

“The plant has had an ammonia issue since about 1993 ... we’ve been fined by ADEQ,” he said. “Pea Ridge is very fortunate to not have a phosphorous limit; all the other numbers are good. We just need to get the ammonia down.”