Effective July 1, the water, sewer and trash rates for Hennessey customers will go up 3 percent.

That’s what the Hennessey Board of Trustees decided at their monthly meeting last week.

The last raise in utilities was in 2010, and the cost of living has gone up 2.8 percent, said Tiffany Tillman, town administrator/clerk.

She said the $45.75 minimum monthly will go up $1.45 and be reflected on the July statement.

Present at the meeting were the newly-elected vice mayor, Clif Vogt, and trustees Wes Hardin, Keith Meek and new trustee Richard Simunek. Absent was Bert Gritz, who was elected mayor that night.

Others at the board table were Tillman and Public Works Director Curtis Turner.

Swimming Pool

Construction

Core samples of the ground near the splash pad for the new swimming pool are due anytime. Actual construction should start around mid- to late June, say officials.

Carothers Construction Co. was given the go-ahead to start on the $2.1 million pool a couple of months ago. The sales tax to pay for the pool started Jan. 1.

The municipal pool will be built on the now-town-owned property on the east side of Mitchell Road across from the elementary/pre-K buildings. The pool and bathhouse will be located immediately west of the splash pad, volleyball and playground equipment.

The free splash pad is open now.

Water Permit Dispute

The board took no action “at this time” after an hour in closed session with its attorney to discuss a possible settlement agreement with the Merritt family about a pending 2017 Oklahoma Water Resources Board groundwater permit.

The Gables Gotwals law firm attorney Dean Couch also met with the board in January over the matter.

The town wants to use wells on the Pecans of Merritt property, south of town on the east side of U.S. 81, to pump water from the nearby Janice (Clements) Dodd and Curtis Turner properties, said Tillman.

The town currently has three water wells on that Merritt property.

Merritt family members in the town hall audience were Virginia Merritt Autry of Enid and Anne Casey Jones of Hennessey. They were not invited into the closed session.

The Merritts had previously protested the town’s water use at the Pecans of Merritt orchard. They reached an agreement with the town to limit their pumping during July-September.

Budget Plans

The board had its first look at the proposed budget for the 2019-20 year that starts July 1. It shows an estimated $4.1 million in carryover.

The combined preliminary budget estimate for income is $4.3 million from taxes ($2.3 million), services ($1.2 million), fines ($175,000) and other miscellaneous items.

Combined estimated expenses are expected to run $3.9 million.

There will be a public hearing on the budget at the board’s 7 p.m. Monday, June 10, meeting.

Fireworks Order OK’d

The board made quick work of approving $7,280 to Rainbow Fireworks on Inman, Kan., for the town’s free July 4 fireworks show.

This is the same company that staged the show last year. Funds from the hotel/ motel tax will pay for the display.

Other Business

The board decided to advertise for bids from mowing companies to mow properties deemed to be public nuisances.

They also voted rates for two water department employees: Alyssa Kubat from $11 to $13 and Brian Henderson from $9 to $11. Kubat recently earned her Class B license.