City Council introduced a pair of ordinances last week that will set water and sewer fees and authorize average rate increases of about 6 percent this year.

The governing body unanimously introduced two ordinances at its Feb. 13 regular meeting. O-8-17 would set new sewer rates and O-9-17 would set new water rates. The two ordinances are scheduled to come up for a public hearing and final adoption at the City Council‘s next regular meeting, on March 13.

It would be the first increase in the sewer rate since 2009. Water rates on average increase by about 5 percent a year. The city is in the process of renewing a long-term lease of its water treatment plant, which projects annual rate increases of about 5 percent over the life of the agreement. If all approvals are granted, a new 20-year lease agreement is expected to take effect in May.

City Council last set water rates via ordinance in 2013 (O-39-13), when it approved an ordinance setting rates through 2018:

• Oct. 1, 2013 — $39.37 per 1,000 cubic feet
• Jan. 1, 2015 — $41.34
• Jan. 1, 2016 — $43.41
• Jan. 1, 2017 — $45.58
• Jan. 1, 2018 — $47.85

The new ordinance (O-9-17) would set water rates as follows, with a new rate increase by April 1:

• April 1, 2017 — $48.62 per 1,000 cubic feet
• Jan. 1, 2018 — $51.05
• Jan. 1, 2019 — $53.60
• Jan. 1, 2020 — $56.28
• Jan. 1, 2021 — $59.09

Sewer rates were separated from the municipal tax bill starting in 2007, establishing a flat annual fee of $245 for single-family homes. That fee was increased by 8 percent to $265 in 2009 and this year will become $290; an increase of 9.4 percent.

Two-family homes will see an increase of 7.5 percent, from $423 to $455, and condominiums will see a rise of almost 11 percent, from $212 to $235.

For commercial and industrial properties, the minimum annual charge per account will go up from $380 to $410, an increase of 8 percent, plus usage. The usage will increase about 9 percent, from $4.28 per 1,000 gallons to $4.67.

For nonprofit, apartment or governmental, the minimum annual charge per account will increase 13 percent, from $135 to $153, plus usage, which will rise from $2.85 per 1,000 gallons to $3.10, about 9 percent.

Rates will remain at $50 for all properties owned by senior citizens who qualify for a senior citizen tax deduction.