MARQUETTE — Marquette residents are going to have to shell out a little bit more money on their utility bills starting next month. The Marquette City Commission had a public hearing Monday night to discuss the utility rate increases.

They’re set to go up seven percent on Oct. 1 and people weren’t pleased. According to Mayor Mike Coyne, it has to be done.

Replacing the membranes for the water filtration system racked up a bill of almost $2 million, all of which had to be paid for with a bond.

“The DEQ has been on our case to be more responsible, to make funds available to accumulate funds over a period of time for repairs. You really should have funding over a period of time so you don’t have to borrow money and pay interest on it. We’re being prudent and that’s the only way we can do it,” said Coyne.

The city has resorted to bonds in the past to pay for repairs. Replacing the membranes for the water filtration system racked up a bill of almost two million dollars, all of which had to be paid for with a bond.

 

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