GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A group of U.S. Coast Guard men and women were recognized ahead of Veteran’s Day during Tuesday night’s Green Cove Springs City Council meeting.

The council then read a Veterans Day proclamation giving a brief history of the holiday, from its beginnings as Armistice Day following World War I. The declaration was followed by the recognition of all veterans present at the meeting.

In the public hearings portion of the meeting, two ordinances and two resolutions were discussed.

The two ordinances were for modifying water rates for fiscal year 2021, while the second was for changing wastewater rates for the same year.

The first proposed rate increase would mean an approximately 60-cent increase for six thousand gallon-per-month users and a 42-cent increase for 3,000 gallon-a-month users. The increase is slated to offset an increase in operational costs.

The motion passed, 5-0.

The second ordinance would amend Chapter 90 of the code governing the rates and bring a 9% increase to help offset repayment of a loan due next year for which monies were used to update the wastewater system. The motion was approved, 5-0, and sent to a second reading at the Dec. 8 meeting.

Two resolutions also were discussed.

The first was for the Special Revenue Building Department Fund operating budget for the fiscal year 2020. This would be necessary due to unanticipated revenue and expenses as of the end of the fiscal year 2020, which ended Sept. 30. Any change to the budget of the previous fiscal year must be approved within 60 days. The motion to approve passed, 5-0.

The second resolution was to amend the Disaster and General Fund operating budgets for the fiscal year 2020. The fund would be increased from zero to $1.5 million. The motion passed, 5-0.

Finally, the consent agenda items listed all passed by votes of 5-0.

The city also completed a special virtual Veterans Day recognition video, with many veterans speaking on their experiences in service. The video is available on the Green Cove Springs city website at www.greencovesprings.com.