Utility Rates, Fuel Cards, and the 804 Art Drop
Cheers RVA!
Today will be mostly cloudy with continued scattered showers giving way to mostly cloudy skies in the evening, with a high of 80 and a low of 68.
the juice:
Utility rates are set to increase this month by $11.25 per month for the average customer as new rates passed by City Council go into effect.
The breakdown in increases for the average customer for various utilities is as follows:
Natural Gas - $3.31/month
Water - $2.61/month
Wastewater - $4.54/month
Stormwater - $1.04/month
The Department of Public Utilities has eliminated the fees for credit card and ACH payments.
the pulp:
Police Chief Edwards has said the sheer number of guns in Shockoe Bottom is “off the charts”, according to Tyler Layne at WTVR. Edwards notes:
“It’s very concerning, because while it may be legal to walk around and open carry, if you're mixing alcohol, drugs and an entertainment environment, it's a recipe for disaster," he said.
An audit of the City’s Fleet Fuel Purchasing Program found at least $44k in “questionable transactions” and concluded internal controls and procedures were ineffective. The City purchased $3.4 million in fuel in 2024.
The date for the 804 Art Drop has been announced: “Artists around Richmond and Central Virginia will hide works of art in their area, and post clues on social media for how to find their pieces. If (when!) you find it, you keep it!”
the dive:
Graham Moomaw from the Richmonder dives into the recent summit between Henrico and Richmond concerning the water system.
Under a deal set forth in 1994, Henrico agrees to purchase 12 million gallons of water from the city per day, with the county currently spending about $14 million per year for drinking water.
Moomaw notes five takeaways from the meeting, including Richmond’s City Council desire for more time to talk on its own, and the effect new data centers in the county may have on the demand for water and potential strain to the system.
Recent failures in the system are also a point of tension for Henrico residents concerned about reliability.
Read the full article here.
the vibe:
Have an artsy day RVA!
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