Janice Eldridge, director of administration and finance at WMU, emphasized that the changes are related to user fees, not rates, and only customers who choose to use the services will be affected.
"If you choose to not call us out after hours, then that fee will not impact you," she said.
Eldridge added later that increases on user fees would help prevent a rate increase, which would affect all WMU customers.
Among the charges are new $20 fees for next-day water connections and leak inspections, a $22 minimum charge for curbside heavy trash pickup and a $75 fee for late-night service calls.
"We don't have any justification for any of this. We don't have any rational for any of this, and I also think, and I have expressed on several other occasions ... that we also need to look at other ways to raise revenues," Reed said.
"Basically all I'm saying is I'm not prepared to vote on this tonight, I am not in favor of some of these, and I am not voting on something that is going to impact individual residential WMU customers," she added.
Commissioner Rick Beach said he understands WMU's need to absorb the costs of the services, referring to his own local business, but still expressed reservations.
"If I just suddenly double my prices, my customers will go some where else. As a WMU customer, I don't have that option," he said. "I'm not opposed to looking at these, but I just need to have justification."
Eldridge agreed to provide the commission with figures on costs and revenues to substantiate the increases for consideration at a future meeting.
"This is a working document," Eldridge said. "It's not set in stone."
"If there are issues, then let's address the specific issues, but let's not throw out the baby with the bath water," she said.
In other business:
Sue Barber gave a presentation regarding Kid's Chance.
Deatra G. Newell was reappointed to a four-year term on the Winchester Housing Authority to begin Jan. 1 and end Dec. 31, 2010.
Vern Orndorff was reappointed to a four-year term of the Winchester Tree Board, which will begin Jan. 1 and end Dec. 31, 2010.
City Commissioner Rick Beach was appointed to the Clark County-Winchester Heritage Commission for a two-year term, beginning Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2008. Beach was also reappointed to the Winchester Character Council for a two-year term, beginning Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31. 2008.
Sandy Barber was reappointed to the Winchester Character Council for a two-year term, beginning Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 1, 2008.
Clare Sipple was reappointed to a three-year term on the Winchester Historic Preservation Commission, with the term beginning Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2009.
The commission amended a work order with Palmer Engineering for services on the Denny Avenue Curb and Gutter Project to add $1,837.50 to the original contract amount for additional work.
The installation of a streetlight near 145 Patio St. was authorized.
Steven K. Hardy and Jennifer Ramey were hired to fill the newly created position of patient transfer specialist, at a rate of $10 per hour. Charles A. Maupin, David Brown, Emily Wills, Carrie B. Taylor and Eddie L. Tipton were hired to fill the position at $8 per hour.
Maintenance worker Estill Perkins was reclassified from grade 17 step 1 to grade 17 step 4 in the city's code after he received Roads Scholar certification.
The city budget was amended with a second reading to reflect appropriations and revenues since the beginning of the fiscal year. The estimated general fund balance at the end of the fiscal year dropped from $1.74 million to $1.71 million.
