The Northwest Missourian

Page 1

NORTHWEST

MISSOURIAN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

MARYVILLE, MISSOURI

NWMISSOURINEWS.COM

VOL. 110, NO. 9

@THEMISSOURIAN

Water, sewer rates to increase by 2022 QUENTIN MORRIS News Reporter | @TheMissourian

He is still “cautiously optimistic” about trends with the virus, the caution coming from the unpredictability of COVID-19. Both locally and nationally, health officials had thought the winter of 2021 would be the worst of the virus before the delta variant began to sweep across the country. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much for this to get refueled,” Blackford said. “I think we like trends, and trends are important. But they aren’t necessarily forecasts of what’s going to happen in the future.” Both Nodaway County and Northwest currently sit in Category Three of three in terms of COVID-19 risk. The third category means populations in those areas are at the least amount of risk, while the first means they are at the most risk. Lt. Amanda Cullin, a member of Crisis Response Team 2, said Northwest has been in the low-risk category for several weeks. The main data points to determine the risk categories are the seven-day positivity rate and the seven-day total case rate.

Maryville’s City Council is in the process of approving increases in sewer and water rates, which could cost the average resident $677.40 more per year on their water bills by 2023. Over the summer, the city hired a company to complete the first water and sewer rate study since 2005. That study showed that in order for Maryville to gain enough revenue to support the system and save money for future projects, such as replacing old pipes, the city would have to increase sewer rates 50% and water rates 25%. The City Council is discussing alternatives to a dramatic price hike, including a two-year plan. In that plan, residents would see a 13% increase in both the minimum charge and the volumetric rate for 2022 and 2023, respectively. Residents would also see a 28% increase in their sewer rates for both the minimum charge and the volumetric rate for 2022 and 2023. If the City Council were to approve this plan, the average Maryville resident with a fiveeighth water meter would see their water bill increase by $8.88 for 2022, then in 2023 increase $12.25. Residents would also see their sewer bill increase by $15.91 for 2022 and then an additional $19.41 increase for 2023.

SEE COVID | A4

SEE COUNCIL | A4

ADDALYNN BRADBURY | NW

While walking into Colden Hall, senior Amberlea Auffert puts on a mask before entering the building. The latest data available at the time of publication shows 27 active cases of the virus in Nodaway County.

County COVID-19 cases fall to three-month low NATHAN ENGLISH Managing Editor | @nathan_3nglish

T

he amount of active COVID-19 cases in Nodaway County reached its lowest point since mid-July, and as of Oct. 11, there were no hospitalizations from COVID-19 as the virus’s hold seems to be weakening locally. The latest data available at the time of publication shows 27 active cases of the virus in Nodaway County. The last time the county had less than 30 active cases of COVID-19 was July 12. Nate Blackford, president of Mosaic - Maryville, and Tom Patterson, administrator of the Nodaway County Health Department, said vaccination rates, natural virus immunity from those who recently contracted the virus, and mitigation efforts all have played a factor in the recent downturn. “You’ve got to feel good about seeing less cases,” Patterson said. Blackford reflected a similar sentiment, and said he feels as good as he has in several months.

Emergency funds roll out to students after Regents’ vote SIDNEY LOWRY News Editor | @sidney_lowry

At the Oct. 8 Board of Regents meeting, the approval for the allocation of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III money to students ranging from $250-$1,100 per student was passed. International and online students are now included in the distribution of these funds for the first time since the funds started in spring 2021. Students were placed into three tiers of eligibility for HEERF funding. The first tier is offering undergraduate, Pell

IN THE NEWS

grant eligible students $1,100. The next tier is for undergraduate students with an estimated family contribution under $30,000 to be given $500. The final tier is for undergraduate students with an EFC of more than $30,000, online graduate students or international students to receive $250. The Board of Regents meeting was called before the originally planned meeting for Oct. 29 because some questions were raised about who the allocation of the funds were going to. “I’m surprised they would allow federal money for interna-

A2 NW art professors honored

Two Northwest art professors were chosen to have their work featured in the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art.

IN THE NEWS

A3 Peep Connect off the ground

Peep Connect, an app designed to help build a connection between local businesses and university students, has officially launched.

tional students. I guess that’s the only part of the tiering that you’ve mentioned that gives me a little bit of thought,” John Moore said. Mary Collins, assistant vice president of finance and controller, made the proposal to the Board of Regents, and said the decision to allow international students these funds was one the federal government made for this specific round. This was a highly debated topic and that it has been in the works since the first HEERF funds were given out, Collins said. Though the decision to allow international students was up to each individual university, Northwest thought it was best to include them in this semester’s funding. “The international students are our students here on campus and they do have needs,” Collins said.

HERF III STUDENT ALLOCATIONS

TIER 1

$1,100 Undergraduate Pell Grant recipients

TIER 2

$500 Undergraduate with EFC < 30,000

TIER 3

$250 Undergraduate with EFC > or = 30,000 Students with no FAFSA filed International students Online students

SEE HEERF | A4 OUR VIEW

A5

Lack of cohesion with midterms make for useless grade checks and confusing schedules. Northwest should implement a midterm week.

MAKAYLA POLAK | NW MISSOURIAN

IN SPORTS Northwest men’s basketball was tabbed as the MIAA’s preseason favorite. The Bearcats are hoping for a fourth national title. A8 Conference Kings

Northwest Missouri’s oldest and largest independently-owned and operated bank. Maryville Savannah Mound City St. Joseph 660-562-3232 660-442-3131 816-324-3158 816-364-5678 AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1914.

Member FDIC PLEASE

RECYCLE


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