Monticello Utility Commission customers will soon notice an increase in their monthly bill, as new water and sewer rates are set to go into effect on March 1.

The bidding process on the wastewater treatment plant is expected to begin soon, stated Gene Jones during the Monticello Utility Commission’s monthly meeting February 16. Once the bidding process is underway, customers will then see the new rates that were approved by the Monticello City Council on March 23, 2011.

With the new rate increase, the local average water rate will be about $19.58 per month and the average sewer rate will be about $16.50 per month. These figures are based on a minimum of 4,000 gallons and reflect the residential rates inside the city. The current water rate is $15.91 and the current sewer rate is $12.90 (these rates are based on a minimum of 4,000 gallons.)

The average residential rate for outside the city will be $24.47 for a minimum of 4,000 gallons. The current rate is $18.90 for a minimum of 4,000. These figures are the minimal amounts and do not include taxes or other charges.

The rate increase will go into effect beginning March 1, said Jones.

All new water rate charges can be viewed at the Monticello Utility Commission office.

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Community Telecom Services is almost ready to launch its new list of services, including digital television packages. The Telecommunications Board met in regular session February 15 and looked over the packages available for television, internet and phone service.

Prices have now been set for all three services, which the cable company should have available within the next month.

Cable customers will be able to upgrade their existing service by selecting additional digital channel packages. There are five digital packages available for subscription. The first package costs $20 and includes a number of popular channels, like ESPN Classic, Great American Country, the Hallmark Movie Channel and Soap Net, just to name a few.

This package also includes a group of digital movie channels as well. A Hispanic digital channel package is available for $10 per month, and there are various movie channel packages also available on the digital tier. They range from $15.95 to $19.95 per month.

The two-way project will also allow the cable company to offer internet packages and phone service to customers as well. The price for local and long distance phone service has been set at $19.95 per month.

There are several different internet packages available for customers, depending on the speed. Prices for internet service will begin at $24.95 per month.

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Thirty-five to forty members of the farming community attended a meth awareness meeting a week ago Friday evening conducted by UNITE Detective Chris Lyon that was filled with information about what they need to be watchful for–not only on their farms–but within their communities.

With hundreds of methods on how to make meth now being posted online, the meeting was complemented by a display of items used in the manufacturing process, including Coleman fuel, lye, ammonium nitrate fertilizer, and empty packs of lithium batteries and diet aids or cold medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.

Graphic photos of scenes–from meth labs in homes to explosions resulting in burned out vehicles–were also shared with those in attendance.

Farmers saw first hand what they can come into contact with–not just out on the farm–but in their barns, on their lands, under rock cliffs, on four-wheeler trails and in nearby homes. Lyon told farmers that meth makers often pile up trees or limbs to disable access roads on farms to secure a remote location to manufacture meth. Others snooping around farms may be looking for ammonium nitrate fertilizer or anna hydrous to aid in the meth making process.

Lyon said that indicators of meth labs within our communities often include covered and blacked out windows in occupied dwellings, unusual amounts of traffic and activities, burn piles, propane tanks with blue colored fitting, people smoking outdoors, and strong odors like cat urine. Discarded ice compresses for sprains are now being found at meth labs. The ice compressors are made up of a water pack and one ingredient meth makers use, ammonium nitrate.

In years past, the manufacturing process was an eight to 10 hour process–now it only takes about 45 minutes to cook a batch of meth with a one step lab consisting of a two liter bottle, tubing and 16 ounce bottle. The end result of a seven dollar box of Sudafed is a gram of meth which sells for one hundred dollars. Guns are found at over 80 percent of meth labs, as well as booby traps on occasion, and 20 to 30 percent of meth labs are discovered by explosion.

Injuries often occur. The most common is respiratory irritation accounting for 54 percent of meth lab injuries and 51 percent of all injuries are to first responders. Farmers were urged to be extremely cautious and to “not disturb the cooking process.”

If two liter bottles and/or 16 ounce bottles with tubing coming out the top are found on farms, farmers should contact 911 immediately and ask that a UNITE Detective be notified to respond to their location.

Injuries from abandoned or active meth labs can be serious or deadly. Any farmer coming in contact with contaminants should wash exposed areas with Dawn dish washing liquid as soon as possible and get help immediately.

Treatment for one individual meth maker with extensive burns because of an explosion can cost up to one million dollars. Statistics show that in 2010 at UT Hospital’s Burn Center, there were 34 “meth related” burn victims alone, accounting for 34 million dollars in costs and these were uninsured individuals, resulting in uncompensated expenses for the hospital.

Wayne County Attorney Tom Simmons and State Representative Sara Beth Gregory were also in attendance for the farmers meeting. Simmons addressed a question concerning sentences for meth makers, saying they are now being sentenced from seven to 10 years for manufacturing methamphetamine.

Gregory answered several questions concerning pseudoephedrine, “the main ingredient in meth” being made available by prescription only. Gregory said the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill by only a 6-5 vote this past week. The House of Representatives is now waiting to see if the bill will be approved by the full Senate.