Smithville officials are pondering the effect the loss of DeKalb Utility District as a customer will have on the city’s water rates.

A water rate study has been conducted, and the results are expected to be revealed at a workshop with the mayor and board of aldermen on Jan. 23 at 5 p.m. The board expects to hear the results of the study, by the city’s utility engineer, the J.R. Wauford Company, at the workshop, which will begin at 5 p.m.

According to City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson, the study is complete and ready to be perused by the board at the workshop.

“Mr. Buddy Petty (a J.R. Wauford representative) is ready to sit down with you and to discuss what they have come up with,” Hendrixson told the council at Monday’s meeting. “Where we’re at now and where we think we will be once DUD comes off our lines. It seems they have run lines everywhere. I don’t think they are going to be connected to any of the master meters with the city. I’m not sure when their water plant is going to start up. I haven’t heard. They (Wauford Company) would like to meet with you and go over everything and tell you what number they have come up with. We may or may not have to raise rates at some point. Unfortunately we probably will due to this,” Hendrixson said.

City water customers are now charged $5 per thousand gallons of water. Customers outside the city limits pay $7.50 per thousand gallons. City sewer customers pay $5.00 per thousand gallons plus a flat usage rate of $3.62.