The Sweet Springs Board of Aldermen met Monday, June 9, and approved a sewer-rate increase.

The current sewer service rate is $2.55 for 0 to 133 cubic feet of water and $0.0125 for each cubic foot of water used thereafter.

At the last meeting of the board, there were three rates proposed. Alderwoman Billie Clevenger was not present to propose her own rate.

Mayor Raymond Kinney proposed an increase to $0.019, which was not the highest or the lowest.

The reason for the increase is the cost of utilites, maintenance, cleaning time because of grease and soap put down drains and testing the lagoons each month.

City Clerk Ronda Nienhueser said the city lost $7,000 last year.

Alderwoman Vivian Wiley approved the reading of the bill and Alderman Jim Lindemann seconded the motion. Alderman Lewis Bybee approved; Clevenger did not. Lindemann approved the second reading and Bybee seconded. Wiley was in favor and Clevenger was not.

Mayor Kinney asked Clevenger why she disapproved of the rate increase.

"I think it's too much at once," she said, to increase the sewer rate after the water rate has already increased.

"That's just a big jump," she said.

"I recommended that price and that was the middle one," Kinney said.

The bill became an ordinance and will go into effect with the July 2008 water and sewer billing.

In other business, the council approved abating taxes of $1,017.82. The highest tax on the list was $123.26 and the lowest is 47 cents. There are six uncollected personal property taxes from 2004, 21 from 2005 and 14 from 2006.

Doug Vogelsmeier, representing the Methodist Church, said Sweet Spring has always had a place for the John Hopkins University cross-country bicycle riders for cancer to stay. He asked the board to approve the closing of Columbia Avenue from Union Street to Park Road.

The riders will be in Sweet Springs Sunday, June 15. Chief Richard Downing said the street closure would not be a problem.

Vogelsmeier said they have had a barbecue for them for the last two years and plans to do it this year. He said the town is welcome to come to the event.

Wiley made a motion to accept the temporary street closure for the event and Lindemann seconded. The board was unanimous in its approval.

Mayor Kinney said he spoke to the city's attorney about combining the park and recreation boards.

The attorney said that the board must put this issue on the ballot for the people to consider since they have taxes to fund the boards.

The next regular board meeting will be Monday, July 14, at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Contact Rachel Harper at marshallcity@socket.net