Mexico residents will see an increase in sewer rates and a new development of workforce housing following Monday night’s meeting of the Mexico City Council.
City staff presented information on prior bond financing that funded the first two phases of a twelve million dollar long-range project. Rather than financing a third phase of improvements through more bond issuance and increased debt, the city has ranked projects and is paying as they go.
From 2015 to 2021, the City has been able to fund more than $4.1 million in capital improvements without additional borrowing and had no rate increase in fiscal year 2021.
The Council voted to increase sewer rates roughly eight percent, amounting to a $3.53 increase monthly based on five thousand gallons of usage.
Users outside of the city limits that use the sewer system are also seeing fee increases.
They are currently billed at 150% of in-city rates and that fee will increase to 200%.
The Council also approved the rezoning of just over seven scres of land owned by Sydenstricker Properties LLC just east of Amelia Drive along Teal Lake Road from single-family residential to multi-family residential to allow for new development.
The new development, Teal Lake Village 2, will consist of 28 2-bedroom units and 12 3-bedroom units situated in 11 four-plexes and two duplexes.
The buildings will be single story and the development will not have separate access to Teal Lake Road, but would instead use Amelia Drive and Falcon to access either Lakeview Road or Teal Lake Road.
During the public hearing regarding the re-zoning, one resident expressed concern over stormwater runoff and increased traffic at the intersection of Teal Lake Road and South Clark. Councilman Williams expressed concern over safety of pedestrians along Teal Lake Road walking to businesses along South Clark and suggested the need for sidewalks along Teal Lake Road beyond those required by the developer of Teal Lake Village.
City Manager Bruce Slagle said that the City has applied for a traffic study grant for the South Clark corridor between Teal Lake Road and Pearl Motor Company that can provide guidance to address traffic flow in the area.