MASON — The Town of Mason is moving forward with their sewer project.

During Thursday’s council meeting Mayor Kearns announced that there would be a public hearing and second reading of the sewer rate ordinance on Tuesday, May 26.

According to Kearns, the public hearing will detail the proposed rate increases. Residents will have an opportunity to object, and objections will go to the Public Service Commission for consideration. If there are no objections, council will have a second reading of the ordinance, and will submit to the PSC.

The ordinance reads that the first 2,000 gallons used per month will be $10.81 per 1,000 gallons. The next 8,000 gallons used per month with be $8.47 per 1,000 gallons; and the next 40,000 gallons used per month will be $3.85 per 1,000 gallons. More than 50,000 gallons used per month will be $3.08 per 1,000 gallons.

There will be no monthly bill rendered for less than $21.62. Ten percent will be added to the net current amount for bills that are not paid within 20 days. A service connection charge of $300 will be issued for each separate connection to the sewer system once the ordinance is in effect. Bills that are not paid within 60 days after the date of the bill will result in discontinued service to the customer. The reconnection charge will be $35.

Effective upon substantial completion of the sewer project or by Sept. 1, 2011, the rates will be as follows: The first 2,000 gallons used per month will be $11.86 per 1,000 gallons; the next 8,000 gallons used per month will be $9.30 per 1,000 gallons; and the next 40,000 gallons used per month will be $4.23 per 1,000 gallons. More than 50,000 gallons used per month will be $3.86 per 1,000 gallons.

No monthly bill will be rendered for less than $23.72.

The rate increases are part of the town’s $479,000 sewer project. According to Amanda Sutphin of Triad Engineering, the project will repair one of the secondary clarifiers, which is currently not operating. In addition it will provide new screening carts at the wastewater treatment plant, an emergency generator at the park pump station and repair several manholes within the collection system that are contributing to the town’s inflow and infiltration problem.

Also, the project will purchase a utility truck for workers to transport various equipment, an inspection camera and a sewer jetter. Kearns described the rate increase as necessary.

“The rates are needed so we can proceed with the wastewater improvement project,” she said, adding that the town has spent thousands of dollars in repairs to the old system.

According to Kearns, the town also is still in the running to receive stimulus money for the project.

In other business:

• Council unanimously approved a budget revision, which will put more money into the police department and less into the city hall, for the upcoming fiscal year.

• Council unanimously approved to allow Faith Baptist Church to use a septic system rather than go on sewer due to the lay of the land.

The next meeting will be 7 p.m. Thursday, June 4.