The Smithville Board of Aldermen voted Thursday night to begin charging DeKalb Utility District (DUD) $5.00 per 1,000 gallons for the water beginning Jan. 1.A special meeting was held at city hall to set a new rate for the DUD before the existing agreement to purchase water from the city runs out on Dec. 31. The present contract, expiring after ten years, dictated that DUD bought water from the city at a rate which increased by five cents per 1,000 gallons each year. The rate topped out at $2.05.The new $5.00 per 1,000 gallon rate is the same that customers inside the city limits of Smithville pay for water.