TALLADEGA — People in the city, both residents and employees, will be facing some additional fees during the next fiscal year.

At its meeting Monday night, the City Council approved a new budget with an 8 percent increase for water and sewer rates. Council President Horace Patterson said the increase was due to an Environmental Protection Agency compliance order, an Alabama Department of Environmental Management consent order and risk assessment.

City employees will pay even higher fees through their health insurance premiums. The Local Government Health Insurance Program of the State Employees’ Health Insurance Board will increase its premium rates by 10 percent on Oct. 1. As the city’s draft budget had estimated only a 5 percent increase, the council voted to split the increase evenly between the city and the employees.

Another large focus of the meting concerned the pending three-year contract with the city and the new E-911 Dispatch Center. The council deemed the contract to be too open-ended in certain contractual policies as it is written.

City attorney Michael O’Brien said the contract causes the council to enter the agreement without knowing the actual costs of such participation. He said the contract does not provide details on amounts to be paid to contracting parties, as well as being too speculative on the costs and provisions for adjustments. He also recommended a cost benefit analysis should be performed to determine if there would be savings in the transfer of dispatching functions of the Police Department.

In addition to costs, the council deemed the current contract to be endangering of a conflict of authority with its financial and hiring policies.

O’Brien and the council hope to have a final contract approved by the beginning of November to facilitate an opening date for the center.

In addition to contract revisions, Councilman Eddie Tucker said he would like to see the dispatchers trained more to consult callers on their emergencies. Police Chief Alan Watson responded that under the new contract, all E-911 employees must complete emergency medical dispatching training within one year of employment.

An additional emergency personnel matter was brought forth at the meeting. The council approved a late budget addition of $3,500 for the Talladega Rescue Squad for the upcoming fiscal year. The squad was unable to formally make its request on time because its secretary was ill. The council agreed that its services were too important to not be given funds.

Earmarking of funds was also removed from the $5,500 budget of the Community Action Agency.

Later in its meeting, the council went into executive session to discuss pending litigation. Patterson said there will be a report on the matter for the Environment Protection Agency available Friday.

In other matters, the council:

• Passed an ordinance to regulate the disposal of fats, oils and grease by food service facilities. All food services must use proper grease interceptors to minimize the waste that enters the sewer system and pay annual permit fees for such interceptors.

• Further enforced that salaried employees are not entitled to compensatory time.

• Approved weed abatement liens to be placed on eight properties.

• Renewed a lease agreement for municipal property at the Talladega Municipal Airport.

• Approved a contract with Clements Dean Building Company to provide renovations for the Police Department at a cost of $374,000.

• Approved the demolition of two mobile homes on Reddish Lane.

• Appointed Chuck Roberts and Joseph Ballow as the city’s representatives to the CoosaValley Annex Board.

• Approved a consolidation between Talladega County and the city as part of the 2010 Census Complete Count Committee. The council will do this by appointing seven additional members to the county’s committee.

• Awarded Charles Morgan of the Community Appearance Litter Crew the Top Gun Employee of the Month Award.

• Designated the street presently named Garvin Street to Canaan Way.

• Transferred the alcohol license for Triangle Restaurant to its new owners.

• Approved the city’s holiday schedule for the next fiscal year, including 12 holidays and an additional day for birthdays.