Lincoln residents can expect to see some increased fees and rates in 2007.

Council members met Thursday and began hearing that service providers, such as Bismarck water and Waste Management Inc., will be raising their rates.

Currently the city is paying $8.94 per household per month to Waste Management for collection, and in turn charges residents $9. Last month, the council learned that Waste Management intends on raising its rates to $9.60, leaving the council to make a decision on what it will charge.

It seems likely that the city of Bismarck will increase the rates for water it supplies to Lincoln. The city's flat rate to residents is $21 per household per month, along with $3.12 per 1,000 gallons of water. The city is charged $2.70 per 1,000 gallons of water by Bismarck, with the additional 42 cents going to operation and maintenance of Lincoln's water system. Lincoln has nearly 700 households in its water system and has a billing collection rate of 96.7 percent, which is considered good.

Auditor Melanie Chaska told the council that after looking at last year's rate increase from Bismarck, she suspects Lincoln can expect a 10-cent increase on the per-1,000-gallon charge.

Lincoln also charges a $10 fee for sewer and $1.25 for street lights each month. Chaska doesn't expect an increase in these rates.

Mayor Glenn Christmann said the council will take a hard look at fees and rates at its December meeting, with changes going into effect in January.

This past year, all of Lincoln's water meters, residential and commercial, have been replaced. With the new meters in place, the city is realizing a 4.2 percent loss of water. This compares very favorably to past water losses, which were put between 15 percent and 20 percent, and the new meters are making the difference.

Eric Volk, representing the state's Rural Water Users Association, told the council that the 4.2 percent loss was excellent.

"The changes you made with the meters did what it was supposed to do. You can't find much better than 4 percent anywhere. I've run into 20, 30, 40 and even 50 percent water losses," Volk said.

Council members felt that flushing of hydrants alone could account for the 4.2 percent water loss.

Volk also told the council that should Bismarck raise its rates for the city, it would be a good time to raise the rates the city charges residents. He even suggested that the city should consider raising rates a little more than the Bismarck increase, allowing for inflation's effect on operation and maintenance.

"Bismarck usually raises its rates 3 to 5 percent each year," council member Jon Wagner said. "We have to keep on top of this."

In other action, the Lincoln council:

3 Approved hiring of Amy Antoine as deputy auditor. Antoine is a Lincoln native and is living there. She will put in 25 hours a week in a part-time capacity. Antoine is a graduate of Bismarck High and has a two-year general degree from Bismarck State College.

3 Adopted the comprehensive plan for the city of Lincoln that was developed over the past year, with changes suggested at last month's council meeting.

3 Appointed council member Bob Johnston to the Metropolitan Planning Organization.

3 Heard that Christmann and city engineer Roger Berg will begin surveying the city's streets and determine which will have to be improved. This means the city will likely look at special assessments to handle the cost of fixing the streets.

3 Recognized that police chief Tiffany Harr had been in Lincoln's employ for five years.

3 Heard that Burleigh County has approved a contract with Lincoln to handle assessing duties.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 701-250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)