Hurley City Council may raise water rates

HURLEY — The Hurley City Council will consider applying for a 3 percent water rate increase when it meets Tuesday at city hall.

The rate increase case would be filed with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.

In other business Tuesday, the council will consider adopting a 2016 budget and tax levy when the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

Before the council’s regular monthly meeting, the board of public works will meet at 6 and will hear an update from city water department employee Gary Laguna regarding water contamination.

Residents of the city recently received letters that their drinking water contains contaminants that violate state and federal regulations and may be cancer-causing if consumed over many years. The levels of Tribalomethanes and Haloacetic acids in the Hurley water system exceeded standards in samples taken on Aug. 24, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, although residents were advised they do not need to drink only bottled water and there is no “immediate” health risk.

In other business, the finance committee will consider an agreement with MSA Professional Services, the city’s engineering company, for a utility maintenance report that is required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The full council will then take action on that agreement.

—Ralph Ansami