ENOCH – The city council last Wednesday voted to approve a $5 increase in the city’s monthly water rate, changed the water impact fee to $4,703, and approved a new budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

The votes came after public hearings, and City Manager Rob Dotson said there were a few people who gave comments, and it seemed most of those who were opposed to the impact fee were supportive of the water rate increase, and most of those who did not want the rate increase were in favor of the impact fee, he said.

“It was a good discussion,” he said.

The impact fee change is an increase to the old water fee, but is a result of the elimination of the secondary water impact fee last year and a study of the city’s whole water system, including culinary and secondary. The new fee is about $1,000 less than the old water fee and secondary water fee combined.

The vote to change the impact fee was 3-1, with Councilor John Banks opposed.

The vote to approve the new budget, including the rate increase, was also 3-1, with Councilor Gary Wilcken opposed. Dotson said the new budget also included a lease program for police department vehicles.

The new impact fee will take effect 90 days after the council’s Sept. 21 vote, and the increase in water rates will begin to be included on the city bill due in November.