Aldermen set to vote on raises, upping water rates

Ruston’s Board of Aldermen is set to put the final touches on a pay raise for themselves and one for Mayor Ronny Walker during Monday’s last scheduled meeting of the year.

The board is also expected to approve a 26.5% increase in water rates, as well as OK the sale of approximately 15 acres at the city sports complex to the Lincoln Parish School Board for construction of a softball field.

Monday’s board meeting convenes at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall and is open to the public.

As to the raises, the proposal up for consideration increases Walker’s base pay by 20%, or from $100,000 to $120,000, and boosts aldermen’s pay to $14,400 annually.

The raises would be effective Jan. 1.

Raise proponents contend not only does Walker’s job performance merit an increase, but also that pay for both the mayor’s and aldermen’s positions needs to be increased to attract people to run for the jobs in the future.

Cost of the proposed raises is already factored in the city’s 2025 budget; that’s because discussion of possible pay hikes began last summer, but nothing was finalized until late fall. The proposal was introduced during aldermen’s November meeting.

The pending water rate increase — the full effect of which customers won’t see until February — was also introduced in November.

Officials say the hike is unavoidable and comes as a mandatory part of the city’s receiving $4 million in federal water sector program money.

According to the rate schedule in the proposed ordinance, the rates will go up each of the next two years, level off for four years, then go up again for three consecutive years.

Walker said terms of the water sector grant call for a rate study done by a firm of the state’s choosing. Municipalities are bound by the results of the study. If they refuse, they must return the grant money.

Walker said the city hasn’t increased water rates in about 15 years, though rates were tweaked in 2022. He said the money from the coming increases will go toward water system improvements.

Other items on Monday’s agenda include introduction of an ordinance setting the stage for Parish Controls, LLC, to become the first tenant in Ruston’s developing secure business park located at the site of the former municipal airport on South Farmerville Street.

The company makes digital control systems for industrial use.

Aldermen will also be asked to approve a resolution approving rehabilitation of the city’s elevated water storage tank alongside I-20. Elevated tanks must be sandblasted and painted periodically to minimize rust.

The project is expected to cost approximately $628,000 and, if aldermen agree, will be done by an Alabama company.