Council passes sewer rate exemptions

With almost no discussion in a meeting that went on for two hours, the Bogalusa City Council Tuesday passed an ordinance that provides exemptions for water and sewer rates for low income households.

Households with a total annual income of $9,500 or less will receive an exemption of 50 percent of the water and sewer rates. And those with a total income of $9,501 to $11,500 will get a 25 percent exemption.

The action, which was actually on an amendment to the existing ordinance, was prompted by council passage early this month of an ordinance to increase sewer rates to 95 percent of water rates. The rate change goes into effect July 1.

On Tuesday the council also introduced an ordinance to accept the low bid and authorize Mayor Mack McGehee to enter into a contract with Barriere Construction to overlay Willis Avenue from Columbia Street to the railroad trestle at a cost of $299,655.

The overlay was necessitated after Temple Inland tore up the street last year to install an underground wall and trench to prevent seepage of lime, a powdered chemical used commonly in the papermaking process, into groundwater or the nearby Bogue Lusa Creek.

City Administrator Jerry Bailey said Tuesday that the “mill” will pay for the work, but asked the city to pass the ordinance.

A public hearing on the proposal will be held at the July 7 council meeting.