Colmesneil notifies residents of utility increase

By Mollie LaSalle

COLMESNEIL – The Colmesneil City Council held an abbreviated meeting last Tuesday, and wrapped up everything on the agenda in 15 minutes.

All uncollected accounts (four in total) were written off. Council decided to go ahead and engage Lufkin-based firm Todd, Hamaker, and Johnson to perform the FY 2021 audit; there was a question at the last meeting of trying to engage a different firm to do this at a lower cost; however, upon checking around, Todd, Hamaker and Johnson’s fee was the lowest (even after they raised their fee from previous years). 

Council also approved an ordinance declining Entergy’s change in rates once again. All reports were approved, as well as the minutes from the previous meeting. Customers were notified on their February water bills of the rate increase effective in March, which was approved at the February meeting. Water and sewer rates were increased to $3 and $2 respectively.

Mayor Duane Crews reiterated that the cost of everything was going up, and the city had to make some adjustments to keep revenue coming in. The $5 increase will add a significant amount to the city’s reserves.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 pm