Rockwood water customers will see no hike in their water rates this year. The Rockwood Water, Wastewater and Natural Gas system board members met last night (Wednesday, May 24, 2017) and began their review of next year’s budget. General Manager Kim Ramsey detailed her list of priorities that included a 2.5% increase in wages for hourly employees and a projected $350 end of the year bonus for them. No water rate increases are anticipated thru the next year budget process as the board and Rockwood City Council passed on a 3% increase earlier this year. However according to Ramsey, with gas sales down because of several years where temperatures haven’t been very cold for any period thru the winter, there may be a need to look at a slight gas rate increase in the future. The board met in a closed session briefly to determine wether or not to file a lawsiut against the engineering and contracting company who are responsible for the Front Street sewer line replacement project. That project has been stalled out the past several months and now behind schedule because of a dispute over who is responsible for paying to redo a section that wasn’t properly installed. The board decided to move ahead with the litigation if needed.