Kendallville City Council members will take a final vote on two ordinances tonight to sell $10.6 million worth of bonds for improvements to the city's water and sewer systems.
Though there was little discussion before the 3-2 votes at the Nov. 1 council meeting, Mayor Suzanne Handshoe said Monday she doesn't expect the final measures to receive such a quiet reception. Council members Larry Blue and Carl Wagner voted against the bond ordinances Nov. 1.
The ordinances, which are split in amounts of $4.6 million and $6 million, call for a 20-year repayment plan using water and wastewater revenue.
Some of the improvements include drilling new wells, building a new water and filtration plant, installing an automated meter reading system and buying a new sewer truck.
Blue said he thinks there's a "more responsible way" to pay for the projects, like working with a local bank for a short-term loan or credit line. The biggest issue for him, he said, is the amount of interest that will be paid over the 20 years when the city's "eggs will be in one basket," he said.
Councilman Carl Wagner objected at the last council meeting to using bonds to pay for a new vehicle and other smaller items that could be paid from the city's general fund.
The council will also take a final vote tonight on an ordinance requiring the city to keep its death benefit payments - given to family members of current or past city police officers when they die - consistent with state increases. The city now pays $9,000 to these families.
A $500 salary increase for Mayor Handshoe and Clerk-Treasurer Marsha Kiersey will also be considered by council tonight. The increase, Handshoe said, is to cover an increase in health insurance costs, which have risen about $550.
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