Karnes City residents will be spending about $10 more per month on utilities after city leaders voted to raise the minimum water and sewer rates during their May 22 meeting.

The decision bumps the residential rate up by $5 and the commercial rate increases by $6. City Administrator Larry Pippen said the increase is necessary for the health of the town’s infrastructure.

Water inside the city currently costs a minimum of $13 a month for residential accounts and $13.75 a month for commercial accounts. Residential sewer rates inside the city currently are $7.50 and rates outside the city run $11.50.

The rate hikes will take effect September this year and residents should see the increases on their October bills.

Pippen projected last year the base rates would have to increase by $16. He told council members he was glad the actual rate increase amounted only to a third of the original projection.

Council members also heard from County Judge Alger Kendall, Jr. regarding an alley near the county courthouse.

Commissioners plan to build a new office facility where the current "ag building" stands, Kendall told council members. The only problem, though, is the city-owned alley surveyors found was running through the current property.

Kendall requested the city abandon the alley so the county can get to work as soon as possible.

Pippen also spoke on the park project. As it nears the targeted completion date, problems with weather keep cropping up. However, the splash pad area of the park is completed, both basketball courts have had their slab poured, and the volleyball court is near completion.

He estimated the park was roughly 75 percent complete and assured council members the city would make the state’s deadline.

"Everything will be closed out within the next two weeks," Pippen said.

June 9 and June 16 are the possible days for a grand opening, though council members haven’t decided on an official date just yet.

Subtracting the grant funding and private citizen donations, Pippen said the final numbers indicate the city will have to pay $47,000 from its own pocket to cover the final costs of the park.