Ferriday — Water was again the main topic of discussion at the Ferriday Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday as the aldermen adopted a resolution to increase water rates in the town to help pay off the loan Ferriday is receiving for a new water plant.

The resolution was passed unanimously and will increase residential flat rates from $16.30 a month to $17.30 and raise the cost of every thousand gallons a resident uses over 1,000 gallons a month by 50 cents.

Alderman Johnnie Brown said the increase on the water rates was something the board had to do.

“The USDA has told us what we are going to do, and if we don’t do it they are,” he said. “The USDA wanted to raise the rate around $10 a month, but we were able to get it down.”

City engineer Bryant Hammett said the water rate increase is going to help pay for the $1.4 million loan Ferriday received and has to pay back over the next 40 years.

“It is (the USDA’s) money, and they have to be sure the communities they fund can pay it back,” he said.

Hammett said the new project will provide Ferriday residents with new meters, an automatic reader system and a new billing system to help make things more efficient.

“These are all just part of the overall project,” he said. “We are also going to have four new wells, and we are going away from river water and using groundwater.”

Groundwater is cheaper to treat and more stable for plant usage, Hammett said.

Hammett said Ferriday is looking to have the new meters put in place within the next three months.

“We have gotten USDA authorization, and I have hired a specialist in groundwater,” he said. “He will come in November and check to see we are providing the right treatment.”

By the spring of 2011, Hammett said he hopes Ferriday will already have started on the water treatment plant.

“We are looking to have the whole process done around this time next year,” he said. “We can’t do this unless these rates are passed and bills are paid.”

Brown said after 25 years of struggling with water problems, Ferriday residents should be happy about the progress being made.

“We have been listening to complaints and we are working to get this in place,” he said. “With the new meters, you are going to have to pay for what you use. Residents need to be aware of that.”

In other news:

4 The board adopted a resolution to pass a notice of intention for water revenue bonds totaling $1,525,000 for help paying for the new water plant.

The bonds will be paid back over 40 years with a two and three eighths percent interest being applied.

4 The Neighborhood Watch program in Ferriday will be a topic of discussion at the next aldermen meeting, because Brown said he has not had time to put the project together the way it should be done.

“We are going to offer an ordinance to try and get the sheriff to oversee the program,” he said.

Ferriday Police Chief Kenneth Hedrick said the program is a good thing for the community.

“All we need to get this going is more participation from people in the community,” he said.

4The issue of video bingo in the Town of Ferriday was not discussed during the meeting.

The issue was approved by the board to be on the agenda for the next aldermen meeting.