The Dell Rapids City Council passed the first reading of Ordinance 825, Water Utility Deposit Increase, at their last regular meeting held on Monday, November 16th.  The ordinance proposed will raise the deposit required for water utility from $50.00 to $125.00 for renters.

City Administrator Justin Weiland said, “The council had discussion at the previous meeting regarding this issue, and it was the vocal consensus that the council was to raise it to that rate.  This was spurred when council member (Lee) Burggraff brought up the issue between owners of the property and their renters, and leaving them with past due water bills.”

The $50.00 deposit rate has been in place since 1999.  If the council passes the second reading of the ordinance, the new rate will go into effect on January 4th, 2016.