By Steven Stilt
At its meeting on Monday evening, the Centralia City Council approved new water sales agreements between Centralia and two satellite customers of the city’s water system.
Council members approved contracts with the Village of Hoffman and the Hoyleton Rural Water Company which are effective through the end of 2029. Under the terms of the agreements, Hoffman and the Hoyleton Rural Water Company will pay $4.10 per thousand gallons of water, up from the previous rate of $2.60 per thousand gallons. City officials say the price adjustment is the first to take place in approximately 40 years.
The new contracts also call for annual increases in the water rate during the life of the contracts. Those increases will take place on July 1 of each year and will be based on the Consumer Price Index.
In other action, the council approved a new four-year contract with Centralia High School District 200 to continue the school resource officer program at the school. The school will pay $9,465.54 per month under the agreement, which was revised downward by almost $2,000 per month after an evaluation of the costs incurred. The new contract has already been approved by the high school.
Mayor Bryan Kuder says the SRO at the high school, Blake Dukes, has had a strong positive impact.
“In speaking with the administration and even with the department, Officer Dukes does a phenomenal job out there. He’s very well liked; he does an awesome job. (I) can’t say enough about that.”
Council members also voted Monday to accept a donation from the Centralia American Legion to provide funds to replace the roof on the American Legion Pavilion in Fairview Park, also known as Shelter Number 9. The city will provide the labor and installation of the roofing.
Commander Al Simmons of American Legion Post 446 presented a check for $2,000 to the city and $1,000 to the Centralia Police Department in recognition of the city’s efforts in revamping the pavilion and providing security during the recent Fourth of July celebration at Fairview Park.
The council also acknowledged the 10 years of service Sergeant Ryan Bundy has put in with the Centralia Police Department. Mayor Kuder told the council he would provide Police Chief Christopher Locke with the certificate recognizing Bundy’s service so that he could pass it along to Bundy.
