An ordinance approving an increase in the city sewer rates has had the second of three readings approved. The ordinance is set for a third and final reading and adoption at the February 20 council meeting. This ordinance would raise the sewer rates by 20% immediately to help fund the necessary updates to the city's wastewater treatment plant. The project will cost an estimated $20,500,000 to bring our plant within the regulations mandated by the Iowa DNR. We have known for quite some time that this project was going to be necessary and have been raising the rates a small percentage annually for the last 10 years in preparation. Doing that has kept this latest proposed increase from being much higher.