Troy residents and businesses will notice a change on utility bills when statements are received in January.

At Tuesday night’s Troy City Council meeting, council members gave final action to an ordinance regarding the municipality’s sewer and water rates. The council voted to raise the rates to the lowest recommended level in order to maintain sewer and water needs in the city. The water rate increase would be $6, on average, for residential users and $10 for commercial users. For sewer rates, those amounts would be $10 and $2, respectively.

The rates will begin in December, showing up on bills issued in January.

“We hate to raise these rates, but we have to from time to time,” Council President Johnny Witherington explained.

Mayor Reeves noted he believes the new revenue system would allow the city to bring the water and sewer system up to where it needs to be.

The council also voted to authorize an additional payroll for city employees, as they do annually. On paychecks issued Nov. 22, full-time employees will receive a bonus of 10 percent of their monthly compensation. For part-time employees and crossing guards, that amount will be $50.

The manager of the newly-purchased Food World in Troy was on hand at the council meeting to represent HAC, Inc. in an effort to obtain a retail beer/wine license for Food World. The council granted the request.

Also at the meeting, the council voted to table an issue regarding a dilapidated building appeal until the building owner could gather more information regarding how much it will cost to bring the building up to code; to authorize local matching funds for the Pike Area Transit Authority; to allow the mayor to finalize paperwork to receive $51,610 provided by the South Central Alabama Development Commission for senior support and nutrition programs; and gave first reading to an ordinance that would amend the council rules and procedures to require council meeting agenda items to be submitted for consideration by noon on the Thursday prior to each meeting. The deadline since 1984 had been noon on Monday prior to each meeting.

Before the meeting adjourned, the council voted to reappoint eight people to city boards.

Jack Norton and Greg Anderson were reappointed to the Board of Adjustments for another three year term. Scherryl Harris was reappointed to the Charles Henderson Medical Center Board for five years. Russell Liles, Ken Cox, Jr., John Little and Leon Hilyer were reappointed for a six year term to the Industrial Development Board. Sharon Daniels was also reappointed to the Troy Public Education Building Authority for another six years.