The Ellis County Press: Palmer elderly to get reduced water rates

Palmer elderly to get reduced water rates
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Editor on 11/28/2002 00:00:00


Mark Varsel
The Ellis County Press
PALMER - By adopting a new city ordinance at its latest meeting, the city
council of Palmer has put in place a measure to assist the city's elderly with
their living expenses, by establishing a fixed fee for water, sewer and garbage
services. Mayor Mike Greenlee said, 'By necessity, water bills are high in order
to pay for the needed improvements to the city's water system.'
Greenlee further explained this was one of the things he wanted to accomplish
during his term as mayor. 'It touches you, in a way,' he said, as he recounted
his personal knowledge of elderly constituents having to decide between buying
prescription medicine or paying their water bills. The new ordinance states any
Palmer resident, over the age of 65, living alone and on a fixed income, can
make an application to the city. Applicants would only be subject to paying the
current base rate of $25 per month for water, garbage and sewer services,'
explained City Attorney Larry Jackson. The new Senior Citizen Minimum Service
Rate will go into effect during the next billing cycle. A similar arrangement is
available, under Section 3 of the ordinance, to churches in Palmer, where more
than one family meets each week to worship.