nspencer@delphosherald.com

DELPHOS — Legislation concerning water and sewer rate increases was heard by Delphos City Council on first reading Monday.

A water rate increase of 2 percent plus the 2012 Consumer Price Index of 1.7 percent is proposed for the May 1, 2013, through April 30, 2014, billing and a rate increase of 2 percent plus the 2013 CPI is set for the billing period of May 1, 2014, through April 30, 2015.

Councilman Mark Clement asked Auditor Tom Jettinghoff to provide council a list of water customers using 800,001 cubic feet or more and customers using 500,001 to 800,000 cubic feet.

“We need to look at our biggest users, our businesses who use a lot, and make sure we protect them so we can protect our citizens,” Clement said. “If we were to lose one of those big users, we would all be in trouble.”

Council struck from the ordinance a rate increase of 2 percent plus the 2014 CPI for the billing period of May 1, 2015, through April 30, 2016, saying they would revisit the rates and determine if an increase is needed in January 2015.