Sewer, water rate hikes announced

Carson City water and sewer customers will likely see a hike in their bills this summer.

Sewer rates are expected to go up 14 percent, and water rates will rise 5 percent, said Finance Director Nick Providenti. The increase will go into effect on July 1.

The sewer increase will go toward equipment upgrades, sewer main extensions and repairs, and freeway utility relocations. The water rate hike will fund equipment upgrades, land acquisition and freeway utility upgrades.

The final budget will be presented in a special meeting on May 16.

"We're barely making it in those funds right now," said Public Works Director Andy Burnham. "There is no cushion in those funds. We had a $12 million cushion 10 years ago."

The board of supervisors opted to cut connection fees 90 percent a year or so ago to help builders.

Acting as the Redevelopment Authority, supervisors also reviewed the proposed 2011-12 fiscal year budget for the Redevelopment Authority.

In other action Thursday, supervisors:

• Appointed Thomas Armstrong as Justice of the Peace to serve the remainder of the unexpired term created by the retirement of Judge Robey Willis, and set the set his salary at $105,257.

• Heard from Burnham that depending on how a couple of Nevada Department of Transportation bids in Las Vegas come in, the final phase of the freeway could be tackled this year, but at the latest, it would be by the end of 2012.

• Recommended to the Department of Housing and Urban Development approval of the Carson City 2011-12 annual action plan to implement programs associated with the Community Development Block Grant program with a clarification that each may be reduced by a certain percentage, except for Friends In Service Helping's $76,500.

• Introduced on first reading an ordinance to change the zoning of three parcels of nearly seven acres located at 788 and 900 Fairview Drive and 900 Mallory Way from Limited Industrial to General Commercial to be developed for the proposed Silver State Charter School campus.

• Awarded a $6.8 million contract to Conti Construction Company out of Las Vegas as low bidder for the North/South Water Transmission Main Project, Phase 2.

• Approved the purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus for $330,498. A grant covers 75 percent of the costs, and the remainder comes from the Fire Fund Air Packs Account.

• Approved spending $275,000 from the Community Center Roof Account on roofing supplies for repairs and restoration.

• Introduce on first reading an ordinance changing the zoning of two parcels of nearly four acres located at 1365 and 1393 Medical Parkway from Single Family One Acre to Retail Commercial.

• Presented a proclamation for Nevada Wildfire Awareness Week May 1-8.

• Present a proclamation recognizing the month of May as Archaeology Awareness and Historic Preservation Month.

• Adopt a resolution declaring Invasive Species Awareness Week from April 25-May 1.