Residents trying to find out what fees Chadron charges for various services will soon be able to find them all in one location. City Council members last night gave first round approval to an ordinance setting fees and listing them together.

City Manager Sandy Powell says it's hard now to find such unrelated charges as water or sewer rates, dog licenses, cemetery charges, hanger rentals, and library fees because they're spread all across the city's books.

The fee ordinance is also the result of comparing what Chadron charges and what other cities charge. While many existing fees remain the same in the new ordinance, others would go up. Powell says that's because they don't cover the actual cost of providing that service.

Water rates would stay at $8 a month after going up 33% last year, but the rate for using over the basic amount would go from 96-cents to $1.02 per 100 cubic feet...with a sliding scale for larger users.

Connecting new water lines would get a lot more expensive. Currently, tapping a 5/8ths inch line costs a flat $125...but Powell says the actual cost to the city is closer to $400...so the new rate will be based on those costs.

Chadron sewer rates would go up $4.50 a month to $20.50 after a $4 increase last year. Powell says this raise is to help fund the new sewer treatment plant set for construction next year.

The full list of proposed fees and charges can be obtained at city hall or from the Chadron city website. Residents will be able to testify during the formal public hearing at the next council meeting in two weeks.