Somerville Board approves new rates and fees on natural gas

By: Carolyn G. Rhea,

Staff Writer

The Somerville Board met on Monday, July 14, with Mayor Ronnie Neill and Aldermen Colin Rosser, Mike French, Zach Bryson, and James Lofties present.

Public Comments

A resident asked some questions on the Flock cameras in town and the county and how they are used. Police Chief Greg Moore stated they scan license plates and the information can be accessed up to 30 days. It doesn’t require a warrant and other agencies can use it too. She asked how many are in Somerville and was told four cameras and two sky cops. When asked if there is info available on crimes to the public, Chief Moore replied yes, under the public information unless it is still under investigation.

Public Hearing

   The board held a public hearing on Ordinance number 2025-004 amending the town’s zoning ordinance to make it easier to identify zones.  This will change residential zoning designations from RR to R1, zoning from LDR to R2, and zoning HDR to R3. It also amends and adds definitions for agriculture, agritourism, farm, horse boarding-stabling, non-farm parcel, shipping container, and vending machine. This was approved by the board on second reading when no one spoke against this.

Next was Ordinance number 2025-007 to establish rates on natural gas rates, fees, and charges on first reading. City administrator Bob Turner stated the gas department will be losing revenue this year for the second time in the last four years. We are trying to create a new formula with this ordinance to determine the gas rate. We aren’t changing the 18 cents per CCF but are adding the adjustment for the BTU conversion factor. We are also rating the gas first in and first out rather using a weighted cost of gas. I believe this will fix the problem we’ve been having, he said.

Turner said in this ordinance we are also adding the ability to adjust the minimum that everybody pays. We do this each year and will help us on our revenue increase. We may want to add one or two cents to the CCF. The board voted approval.

A motion was made to approve the banking services contract to Trustmark Bank in Somerville. This will give them a fixed rate interest rate of 3.5 percent for one year.

   The town received a bid on sludge removal at the lagoon. It was thought it would be around $302,000 but it came in at $568,000. Turner said their city engineer, Alton Hethcoat, will do an alternative and we should reject this bid. This was approved.

New Business

   The board was told about a change order for Gas Phase 11. It includes an increase of $9,772 for valves that need replacement underground when old lines were taken out. Another $49,000 is to install 1,481 feet of six-inch gas line. The total addition to the project is about $59,000 and it was approved.

Just before the meeting adjourned, Turner an-nounced that Spike Steinert, a former fire chief for Somerville from 1968 to 1985, has passed away.