During the regular Huntsville City Council meeting on August 10, Huntsville Utilities introduced an ordinance that would increase the water fee schedule, prompting President John Meredith to invite residents to share their thoughts before or during the next meeting.

Huntsville Utilities introduced an ordinance that, if passed, would increase water fee schedule due to the rising costs of keeping up with consumer demands and inflation.

“If we do nothing after this year, we’re in trouble. That is primarily because of the increase in the cost of doing business. I think you all know that we’ve talked to you about the possibility of this for several years, and we have staved it off as long as we absolutely could with all the factors that contribute to the cost of doing business, especially inflation and the cost of materials, we can no longer sustain what we’re doing,” Joe Gehrdes of Huntsville Utilities said.

City Council President John Meredith encouraged the public to reach out to the City of Huntsville and attend the next City Council meeting to discuss the potential price increase.

“Come here; express your desires, your thoughts about this increase here to this body. Emails, phone calls, those are nice. We take them seriously, maybe to the chagrin of my colleagues,” said Council President Meredith.

The meeting also saw a myriad of resolutions passed:

Resolution authorizing $18.5 M payment for expenditures passed.
Resolution appointing James Cochran to the Beautification Board, Place 8, filling a vacancy due to the resignation of Betty Gaylor for the remainder of a three-year term to expire September 2025 passed.
Resolution appointing Dr. Michael Cosgrove to the Medical Clinic Board of the City of Huntsville to fill a vacancy due to the death of Dr. Donald Ross for the remainder of a six-year term to expiring in March 2024 passed.
Resolution appointing Sally Warden to the Medical Clinic Board of the City of Huntsville-1966, to the seat previously held by Alison Jacks for a six-year expiring in March 2028 passed.
Resolution appointing Dr. Calame Sammons to the Museum Board of the City of Huntsville to the seat previously held by Steve Johnson for a six-year term expiring in August 2029 passed.
Twenty consolidated business resolutions passed.
Separate consideration approving appropriations, goods, or services for the District 1 Council Improvement Fund passed.

The council consolidated and approved seven vacations of Easement, which allow property owners to utilize land on portions of their property that are being used for municipal purposes, in this case utilities and drainage.

An ordinance requiring unanimous council approval authorizing the issuance by the City of its General Obligation Warrant, Series 2023-E, to be dated August 16, 2023 passed.

The council introduced ordinances annexing a 10 acre plot of land lying on the south side of US Hwy 72 W and east of Springhill Road and a 695 acre plot of land lying on the west of US I-65 and east of AL Hwy 31 but has not voted on them.

The Huntsville City Council meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. City Council meetings may be attended at the City Council Chambers or watched live on HSTV. For more information, please visit www.huntsvilleal.gov/government/city-council.