The Lone Tree City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance change to increase water rates in the city.

City Clerk Stephanie Dautremont said the change is to cover the cost of the improved garbage collection system in the city, which takes effect July 1.

The new garbage rates will be $18.50 per month.

The revised ordinance raising the fees requires two more readings before taking effect.

When the council approved the new contract with Johnson County Refuse in January, Mayor Joanne Havel predicted there would be complaints.

“I think the combination with the water rates and this is going to be a big blow,” she told the council.

Water and sewage rates were raised last year to cover the cost of capital projects such as the state-required renovations on the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

When the new system takes effect, each household will get two 65-gallon carts – one for garbage and the other for recycling. Currently households put their garbage in bags affixed with a sticker for pickup.

Johnson County Refuse owner Steve Smith told the council in July that many cities are going to the cart system, which allows trucks with automated arms to pick up each cart and dump it into the truck.

The cart system reduces worker compensation claims from injuries where workers jump on and off trucks and manually lift garbage bags and cans into the trucks.