West Point City Council hiked sewer rates in a special called meeting before its regular work session, a move it had to take to close the bonds on the construction of its new wastewater treatment plant.

“The sewer rate was approved in December 2008 with the 2009 budget to take effect in 2010,” said City Manager Ed Moon. “I did not consider that the bond closing would take place before January 2010 due to the construction schedule.”

Construction finished ahead of schedule, however, and the city cut the ribbon on the plant in October. A federal law requires the new rate be in place before the bond closing, Moon said. That closing is scheduled for today.

Residential and commercial sewage customers will see an increase to $3.37 per 100 cubic feet from $2.61 and $2.80 per 100 cubic feet, respectively. There’s no change for industrial customers.

West Point has studied and increased most of its utility rates in the last two years as part of a general upgrade of infrastructure in advance of Kia Motors’ opening.

Jennifer Shrader can be reached at jshrader@lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.